08-08-2025
Kawasaki files lockout notice vs. over 200 workers; union to respond
Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corp. has filed a Notice of Lockout against 289 rank-and-file union workers for allegedly committing unfair labor practices over their ''illegal strike.''
In the Notice of Lockout filed before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Kawasaki said the union workers had supposedly violated the 'No Strike/No Lockout' clause of the collective bargaining agreement in 2022, which was signed by the management and the union.
In a statement, Kawasaki United Labor Union (KULU) said it is awaiting response from its legal team concerning the Notice of Lockout filed by Kawasaki, 'pero kampante tayo at alam naman natin kung ano ang katotohanan at kasagutan sa mga bagong isyu na naman ng management.'
Further, Kawasaki said the union workers have supposedly boycotted three company-sanctioned activities last year, which include the anniversary celebration last July 24 and Sportsfest last June 15 as well as the mandatory overtime to catch up on production which was announced last April 30, 2025.
Atty. John Bonifacio, external counsel of Kawasaki, said that boycotting company-sanctioned activities and violation of the 'No Strike/No Lockout' clause of the CBA constitute unfair labor practice on the part of the workers, which can be used as grounds for the filing of the Notice of Lockout.
''We have exhausted all legal means possible to convince union workers to accept our offer and return to work, because they are disrupting operations, but to no avail,' Bonifacio said in a press release.
Kawasaki had claimed that the strike had 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.
Earlier, KULU filed a manifestation before the Department of Labor and Employment-National Conciliation and Mediation Board, saying that its strike, launched in May, was legal.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
