Practice question
A labor dispute disrupts a hospital. Both the striking union and management, which also refuses to operate, insist that patients can wait until their bargaining positions are accepted. Emergency patients need continuing care. Under Article 278(g), which conclusion is correct?
- The striking union or locking-out employer has the statutory duty to provide and maintain the effective skeletal medical and health workforce needed to protect patients’ life and health.
- A lawful grievance permits abandoning all emergency patients.
- Only non-emergency patients are protected.
- The statutory duties disappear whenever both parties disagree.
- A skeletal workforce is categorically prohibited.
Legal references
- Labor Code, DOLE consolidated 2022 edition, Articles 219, 258–260, 262–264, 274 and 278–279: https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/15242/PHL15242%202022.pdf; Articles 278(g)–(i) and 279(a).
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