Kawasaki labor union says strike is legal

The Kawasaki United Labor Union (KULU) has filed a manifestation before the Department of Labor and Employment-National Conciliation and Mediation Board, saying that their ongoing strike launched back in May was legal.

In its manifesto, KULU said that “there is nothing in the Labor Code that prohibits and prevents the Pilipino working man from declaring a strike on CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) negotiations deadlock.”

“The right to strike on ground of CBA Negotiations deadlock is their constitutional right,” the union said in its manifesto filed on July 4. 

GMA News Online has reached out to the Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KMPC) for comment, but it has yet to reply as of posting time. 

KULU filed the manifestation in response to the complaint lodged before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) by KMPC, asking for the union’s ongoing strike to be declared illegal.

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.

In response, KULU said that the “No Strike, No Lockout” provision was effective during the lifetime of the CBA which is from July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2024.

In its statement, the labor union said it took them 11 months after the expiration of the earlier CBA before it launched a strike.

“Obviously there is no CBA provision violated,” KULU said

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. —VAL, GMA Integrated News