Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corp. (KMPC) called once more on the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to declare the ongoing labor strike by the Kawasaki United Labor Union as being illegal.

In a statement, Kawasaki Motors said it is imperative for the NLRC to intervene as an extended picket activity by the union will not bode well for workers.

“We urge government authorities to step in and help resolve the issue quickly and fairly," said the KMPC.

It said this is because an extended work stoppage affects all employees.

“We respect the right to organize, but we also have to protect the rights of workers, who want to work and provide for their families,” said Kawasaki Motors Philippines.

But Kawasaki Motors said they will not yet push for the Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) by the Department of Labor and Employment.

"We have not yet filed a petition for assumption of jurisdiction because we are focused now on our petition for illegal strike," said legal counsel John Bonifacio in a phone interview.

In its petition to declare illegal strike, Kawasaki Motors Philippines accused the union as conducting an illegal strike in its main plant in Muntinlupa City since May 21.

This, it said, as their action violates the "no strike, no lockout" clause of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed by both parties in May 2022. DMS