Kowloon workers’ strike yields gains
After six days of strike, workers of Kowloon House West Avenue in Quezon City forced the company to implement a long overdue wage increase and benefits. In negotiations on April 20, they agreed on a ₱20/day wage increase and the management’s payment of its ₱570,000 service charge debt to the workers.
Workers launched the strike on April 15 in response to the management’s wage suppression in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). All workers voted to launch it on April 8.
Prior to the strike, the company’s final offer was a ₱13 daily wage increase against the workers’ demand of ₱25. This was still the agreed upon wage increase amount in their 2020–2022 CBA. The company has already failed to release around ₱5.5 million in wages and benefits.
The strike succeeded because of the workers’ firmness and their union Glowhrain-KMU-Kowloon House West Chapter, and because of the broad support from fellow workers, students, professionals and groups. The union expressed deep gratitude to all who supported them.