Kawasaki files complaint vs. labor union amid strike

Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KMPC) has lodged a complaint before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), asking for the ongoing strike by its labor union to be declared illegal.

The firm is also seeking the dismissal of the union officers leading the work stoppage.

In a press release on Thursday, KMPC said the complaint stems from the strike launched on May 21, 2025 by the Kawasaki United Labor Union (KULU).

The KMPC said that the action violates the “No Strike, No Lockout” clause of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was signed by both parties in May 2022.

“This strike is not just illegal—it is irresponsible,” said Kawasaki Motors Philippines' external counsel John Bonifacio.

“It violates the terms of the CBA and places the jobs of over a thousand workers at serious risk. The law is clear: no strike should take place while good faith negotiations are ongoing, especially when both parties are still trying to settle economic issues,'' he added.

According to the KMPC, the disagreement revolves around economic provisions that remain under active negotiation, saying that it was not grounds for a ''valid strike.''

Kawasaki also claims that the strike has resulted in significant operational disruptions, loss of business opportunities, and reputational damage.

Kawasaki said that it remains open to negotiations with KULU, offering a 5% salary increase as the firm continues to recover from pandemic-related financial losses.

GMA News Online has reached out to KULU through its official Facebook page, but it declined to comment. — BM, GMA Integrated News