7 basic principles governing right to self-organize

[1] CHOICE OF ORGANIZATION; COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: Right to form, join and assist labor organizations of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining through representatives (Art. 257).

[2] CONCERTED ACTIVITIES; MUTUAL AID: Right to engage in lawful concerted activities for the same purpose or for their mutual aid and protection (Art. 257).

[3] ELECTION OF LEADERS: Their freedom to organize would be rendered nugatory if they could not choose their own leaders to speak on their behalf and to bargain for them.

[4] PREFERENCE FOR UNION MEMBERSHIP: The right of the employees to self-organization is a compelling reason why their withdrawal from the cooperative must be allowed. As pointed out by the union, the resignation of the member-employees is an expression of their preference for union membership over that of membership in the cooperative.

[5] REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Recognition of the tenets of the sect ... should not infringe on the basic right of self-organization granted by the constitution to workers, regardless of religious affiliation.

[6] RENUNCIATION OF MEMBERSHIP: The right to form or join a labor organization necessarily includes the right to refuse or refrain from exercising said right. It is self-evident that just as no one should be denied the exercise of a right granted by law, so also, no one should be compelled to exercise such a conferred right. The fact that a person has opted to acquire membership in a labor union does not preclude his subsequently opting to renounce such membership.

[7] RIGHT NOT TO JOIN: Subsumed in the right to join, affiliate with, or assist any union is the right NOT to join, affiliate with, or assist any union; or to leave a union and join another one. (Heritage Hotel Manila v. PIGLAS-Heritage; G.R. No. 177024)