Article 280. Improved offer balloting.

In an effort to settle a strike, the Department of Labor and

Employment shall conduct a referendum by secret ballot on the improved offer of the employer
on or before the 30th day of the strike. When at least a majority of the union members vote to
accept the improved offer the striking workers shall immediately return to work and the employer
shall thereupon readmit them upon the signing of the agreement. In case of a lockout, the
Department of Labor and Employment shall also conduct a referendum by secret balloting on the
reduced offer of the union on or before the 30th day of the lockout. When at least a majority
of the board of directors or trustees or the partners holding the controlling interest in the case
of a partnership vote to accept the reduced offer, the workers shall immediately return to work
and the employer shall thereupon readmit them upon the signing of the agreement.
(Incorporated by Section 28, Republic Act No. 6715, March 21, 1989) Article 281. Requirement for
arrest and detention. Except on grounds of national security and public peace or in case of
commission of a crime, no union members or union organizers may be arrested or detained for
union activities without previous consultations with the Secretary of Labor. Chapter II ASSISTANCE
TO LABOR ORGANIZATIONS Article 282. Assistance by the Department of Labor. The Department of
Labor, at the initiative of the Secretary of Labor, shall extend special assistance to the
organization, for purposes of collective bargaining, of the most underprivileged workers who, for
reasons of occupation, organizational structure or insufficient incomes, are not normally covered by
major labor organizations or federations. Article 283. Assistance by the Institute of Labor and
Manpower Studies. The Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies shall render technical and other
forms of assistance to labor organizations and employer organizations in the field of labor
education, especially pertaining to collective bargaining, arbitration, labor standards and the Labor
Code of the Philippines in general.