Kawasaki Motors Phils Corporation (KMPC) workers and their union, the Kawasaki United Labor Union (KULU), held a program on August 29 in front of the company headquarters in Muntinlupa City. They marked the 100th day of the strike, which began on May 21 because of the deadlock in the negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between management and the union.

The union honored the workers for their persevering stand for the strike. “One hundred days of raising grievances and calls for rightful benefits and a livable wage increase,” KULU declared.

In more than three months of strike, Kawasaki management and the union met several times in discussions and negotiations under the supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment. These talks only further exposed Kawasaki’s shamelessness and cruelty toward workers.

“We feel the hardship of our sacrifice but we never weakened nor surrendered because we know the importance of our fight,” KULU added. The KULU strike continued despite Kawasaki’s maneuvers, harassment, intimidation, and other tactics.

This August, KMPC filed a notice of lockout against 289 rank-and-file union members. The capitalist also labeled KULU’s strike as “illegal.” It further accused KULU of violating the “No Strike/No Lockout” clause in the CBA they signed in May 2022.

“Sadly, all we have seen in the duration of our fight is how heartless the company leaders are towards their workers… instead of coming up with solutions for reconciliation, they resorted to tactics of intimidation and slander just to weaken our ranks and force us to accept their cheap offer,” KULU stated.

KULU is currently pushing for a 10.5% wage increase (down from the original 11.5%), while KMPC counters with a paltry offer of a 5% increase. According to the union, the average wage of company workers is ₱37,000, with 60% of workers receiving lower than this amount.

The workers do not believe KMPC’s excuse that it lacks sufficient funds to support the wage increase. Based on KULU’s data, KMPC earned more than ₱35 billion from 2021 to 2023.

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), its affiliate unions, Kilos na Manggagawa, and other groups joined the program on the strike’s 100th day. KMU chairperson Jerome Adonis personally joined the picket to express support for the union’s struggle.

“The unity of the strikers remains unbroken,” KMU acknowledged. They called on fellow workers to continue giving full and strong support to KULU and their strike. “Let us march with them toward victory!” KMU urged.

KMPC produces motorcycles and motorcycle parts. The company also manufactures and exports components and power products, and provides parts and repair services.