Dismissal of 24 union leaders in Laguna electronics firm amid CBA talks slammed

A labor NGO condemned on Wednesday the termination of 24 union leaders in one of the biggest electronics manufacturer in the country despite ongoing negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) said NXP Semiconductors’ move grossly undermines the union’s bargaining efforts and is tantamount to union-busting.

The 24 unionists received a termination notice on Tuesday for allegedly leading “illegal strikes” when they did not report for work on government-declared holidays (April 9, 17 and 18, and May 1).

“NXP Semiconductors’ illegal dismissal of the 24 unionists is aimed at derailing the CBA negotiations and at weakening the union, which has been steadfast in asserting NXP workers’ rights for higher wages and job security,” EILER executive director Anna Leah Escresa said.

“We express serious concern over the termination NXP union leaders without due process and based on flimsy unacceptable reasons amid bargaining negotiations,” Escresa added.

Escresa said the union, which is affiliated under a federation of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), is insisting an 8-percent raise while the company has stopped at offering a 3.5-percent increase for the duration of the next CBA.

EILER said NXP Semiconductors, which manufactures different types of sensors, audio amplifiers and micro-chips, is setting a very bad precedent to other companies who may threaten their workers into reporting for work during holidays.

The group joins the call of various labor groups for the immediate reinstatement of the illegally dismissed union leaders and for the management to accept the union’s demand for an 8-percent increase.