PEMA is the acronym of PHILNABANK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION organized and registered under DOLE Registration No.  NCR-UR-3-3790-2002  as  a legitimate labor union of the  rank-and-file employees of the Philippine National Bank.

LABOR UNION is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labor contracts by way of  collective bargaining with employers. The most common purpose of  labor unions is maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment.

PEMA is recognized by PNB management as the sole bargaining agent of the rank-and-file employees, therefore, is not simply an association of employees whose purpose, for instance, is encouraging savings and providing loan facilities to its members. It has, by operation of law, its much bigger role of protecting the rights, interest, and welfare of workers as a “legitimate labor organization” under the Labor Code of the Philippines.

YES. Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution affords full protection to labor. It guarantees the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law.

The Labor Code of the Philippines, likewise, declares that it is the policy of the State “to ensure the participation of workers in decision and policy-making processes affecting their rights, duties and welfare.”

All regular rank-and-file employees of the Philippine National Bank are qualified to be members of PEMA except those who are supervisory personnel (belonging to the rank of Junior Assistant Manager) and up; and those enumerated under Article III, Section 3 (a) 3, 4 & 5 and (b) of the 2017-2022 CBA.

YES. “An employee who attains regular/permanent status…and who  occupies a position included  within the  bargaining unit shall be required to join or become a member of the Union within thirty (30) days after regularization, and shall maintain his or her membership in good standing with the Union…as one of the conditions of said employee’s continued employment with the Bank.” (Article IV—Union Security, Section 2 of the 2017-2022 CBA)

Those who (1) attain regular or permanent status and who occupy positions included in the bargaining unit but opted not to become members of PEMA after thirty (30) days from date of their regularization; or (2) those who are already members of PEMA but were not able to maintain their membership in good standing as prescribed under our Constitution and By-Laws; or (3) those who ceased to become members of PEMA for any of the following reasons: (a) willful non-payment of Union dues and other assessments approved by the general assembly; (b) voluntary resignation from the Union during the life of a collective bargaining agreement; and ( c) violation of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Union may be terminated from their employment with PNB under Article IV, Sections 1, 2 & 4 of our 2017-2022 CBA.

NOTHING AT ALL. Instead, by the time you become a member your rights, interests and welfare as a rank-and-file employee are being promoted and protected by PEMA as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, and as agreed between PNB and PEMA in the 2017-2022 CBA.

The members are bestowed with the following rights and duties by virtue of Article VI of our CBL:

• To elect and be elected;
• To examine the books of accounts and other records     of the Union;
• To seek redress of grievances;
• To know the state of the Union;
• To decide/vote on amendments to the CBL, declaration of strike, and other matters of major importance;
• To avail of the benefits, privileges and services of the Union.

Below are the duties and responsibilities of PEMA members as stipulated in the CBL:

• To obey and defend the CBL;
• To pay monthly Union dues, fees, and assessment;
• To report acts of oppression, abuses, dereliction of duties of any officer of the Union;
• To obey lawful orders, summons, and notices issued by governing bodies or officers of the Union; and
• To observe the rules and regulations adopted by the Union.

To mention a few, a PEMA member may be penalized up to the extent of termination of membership if he/she violated the CBL:

• Refuses to attend Union meetings/activities without justifiable reasons; or
• Disloyalty to the Union; or
• Refuses to pay special assessment and other levies to the Union.

1. Local Council Committee—In the branches/offices/departments, it is composed of Shop Stewards, Vice Stewards, and Secretaries.
2. Regional Area Council—In the regional areas such as Head Office, Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, it is composed of the Executive Directors, the Regional Action Men, and the Shop Stewards.
3. National Executive Board– Although the supreme authority is vested in the National Congress, PEMA is administered by the National Executive Board (NEB) composed of elected members for a term of five (5) years.

For complete list of officers, click here.

The NEB holds its regular meeting every month, however, a special meeting may be called by the President whenever it is deemed necessary (at the principal office of the Union situated in the 2nd Floor of the PNB Financial Center) to discharge its mandated duties and functions.

PEMA promotes and protects every member’s rights, interests, and welfare by way of the following avenues/remedial measures/machinery:

• Labor-Management Council meeting– To enable the PEMA members, as represented by the NEB, to participate in policy and decision-making  processes in the Bank insofar as said processes will directly affect  their rights, benefits and welfare.
• Grievance machinery— For PEMA members to seek redress of grievances arising from any misunderstanding, dispute or controversy from the interpretation, meaning, application, and implementation of any provision of the CBA  between the Bank and the Union or any dispute or controversy between the Bank and any covered employee respecting any term or condition of employment, including that which may arise from the interpretation and enforcement of the Bank’s personnel policies.
• Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiation– to  negotiate contract between PEMA and PNB  concerning wages, hours of work and all other terms and conditions of employment in the bargaining unit, including mandatory provisions for grievances and arbitration machineries.