Workers of semiconductor firm in Laguna end strike
LAGUNA, Philippines — Workers of semiconductor company Nexperia Philippines based in Cabuyao town of Laguna ended their four-day strike on Saturday after securing a wage increase of more than P50 per day, to be implemented over three years and the reinstatement of two union officials.
While they had ended their strike, the union said in a Facebook post Saturday that they would continue to seek the reinstatement of two more union leaders.
It also stressed that any retaliatory actions against the workers were prohibited after the strike has ended.
According to the union, the 74-hour work stoppage resulted in losses of P1 billion for the company.
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“In line with this are the ongoing challenges—the continuing fight to bring back two more [union] officials and stop the threat of removal, the continued struggle for a living wage in areas beyond the enterprise—at the national level, for all workers, and the continued [struggle to] defend the right to unionize and strike!” read the post.
The workers belonged to the Nexperia Philippines Inc. Workers Union-National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) records showed.
The workers of the Netherlands-owned semiconductor company launched their strike on March 5 to push for a P50 wage increase, as against the company’s offer of a P17 wage increase; and the reinstatement of four union leaders who were laid off since negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement began in early 2024.
The union claimed that over 200 workers, including three union officials, had been laid off in 2023 under a “deceitful” voluntary separation program that forced them to resign in exchange for a “small” separation pay.
In July last year, 348 more workers were removed from their posts, followed by four more union officials in December, it said.
The union went on strike even after Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, on Feb. 5, had assumed jurisdiction over the dispute and “enjoined the parties from going on strike or lockout, or taking any concerted action that may further exacerbate the situation.”
On Friday, Dole issued another order asking Nexperia Philippines and the workers’ union to “strictly comply with the terms” of the Feb. 5 order and for all striking employees to immediately return to work.
