12 June, 2014Marking the first month anniversary of the illegal dismissals of 24 union officials at NXP Cabuyao in the Philippines, protesters picketed in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A number of organisations expressed support for the workers’ fight to reinstate the 24 union officials, illegally dismissed in May. Barbed wires, padlocked gates and the presence of police and emergency response teams met protesters. Undaunted, the workers and their supporters determinedly asserted their right to protest.

Children of illegally dismissed workers joined their parents in calling on the DOLE to act decisively on the labor dispute. They urged the NXP management to reinstate the 24 union officials and get back to the negotiating table.

In the afternoon, protesters rallied in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where the NXP plant is located. At the same time as this protest took place outside, workers inside the plant conducted successive noise barrage during lunch and snacks break.

Reden Alcantara, president of the NXP Semiconductor Inc. Workers Union (NXPSCIWU) and National President of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP), condemned the NXP management for continuously refusing to settle the dispute and consistently harassing the workers.

In a bid to win public opinion, NXP had published an open letter in one of the country’s leading newspaper, claiming to be prepared to settle the issue.

Alcantara says:

“On the contrary, the NXP management has already suspended the CBA talks despite the union’s willingness to resolve the dispute. Management is campaigning for individual ratification of the CBA in an effort to break the unity of the workers.”

He vowed that the union would continue to fight until they win.

IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina says:

“We strongly support of our affiliate in fighting back against NXP’s illegal dismissal of 24 union officials. It’s time for NXP to reinstate the union officials and enter into good faith negotiations with MWAP.”

Show your support!

Sign the LabourStart campaign: Stop union-busting at NXP Semiconductors

Like the Facebook page BringbackNXP24. Take a selfie and/or groupie photo expressing your support for the NXP workers. Post them using the hashtag #bringbackNXP24.