The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns electronics giant Nexperia Philippines Inc. for laying off four union officials, including the union president and vice president, amidst ongoing negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This is a clear case of union busting and a violation of workers’ right to the freedom of association and collective bargaining and of assembly and expression.

On December 17, the Nexperia management laid off four leaders of the Nexperia Philippines Inc.-Workers Union (NPIWU) – union president Mary Ann Castillo, union vice president Antonio Fajardo, public relations officer Girlie Batad, and council member Marvel Marquez.

The Nexperia management accused the union officials of leading the November 19 protests in the company premises that allegedly blocked the company’s ingress and egress. It has banned the union from holding mass meetings in the company’s canteen, gymnasium and other premises amidst ongoing CBA negotiations.

NPIWU is an affiliate of the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU), a federation of national labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement). It is one of the oldest standing unions in the country, having started when the electronics company was still known as Philips. Ongoing CBA negotiatons have been stalled on the issue of workers’ demand for an increase in wages and benefits and for job security.

According to its website, Nexperia is a global semiconductors company that is headquartered in The Netherlands and produces “essential semiconductors” that enable the basic functions of “virtually every electronic design… – from automotive and industrial to mobile and consumer applications.” The company lists USD 2.4 billion as global annual revenue and 9.4% as global market share.

The Nexperia workers are fighting for legitimate demands. The Nexperia management should not resort to overkill responses and violations of workers’ rights even if it cannot meet those demands. To its credit, it has recognized the workers’ union in the company for many decades now. At the same time, it has often resorted to mass terminations of union officials during CBA negotiations.

How can workers truly experience and exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and of assembly and expression if the company management perennially lays off union officials? And how can union officials function to the best of their abilities if the threat of being laid off is always hanging above their necks?

We are calling on the Nexperia Philippines Inc. management to reinstate the four union officials that it laid off and engage in CBA negotiations in earnest. As a business that is clearly raking in huge profits, it surely can uphold workers’ rights even as it continues to grow.