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iPhone 6 supplier NXP ramps up intimidation and delaying tactics

16 July, 2014NXP Semiconductors, the billion-dollar electronics manufacturer, is further intimidating workers and using delaying tactics to break trade union demands to reinstate 24 illegally fired workers in the Philippines.

The Dutch multinational, which is reportedly supplying technology for Apple’s new iPhone 6, sacked 24 trade union leaders from the Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) on 5 May for not working on a series of public holidays.

Now the company is said to have conveyed through the ministry of labour that it wants to try and pay off the illegally sacked workers, effectively removing the trade union leadership from the plant. MWAP has rejected this offer.

Despite assurances, NXP has failed to bring a new negotiating team to the table for talks with IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, MWAP, this week, delaying a critical conciliation meeting. In the meantime, the 24 fired trade unionists face yet another week without work and without pay

NXP has also increased the number of security guards at its plant in Cabuyao, outside the Philippine capital Manila, adding to the intimidation already felt by workers there.

Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL’s general secretary, said:

“NXP must end the delaying tactics, stop the intimidation and bring back the workers now. NXP’s cynical strategy to draw out proceedings and break the resolve of 24 loyal workers and trade union leaders, some of whom have been with the company for 20 years, is an overtly aggressive case of union busting, contravening all international standards on labour legislation.”

Furthermore, Raina added:

“NXP’s insulting attempt to pay off the illegally fired workers would set a dangerous precedent of trading corporate cash for worker rights. You cannot put a price on fundamental worker rights.”

MWAP has succeeded against all odds in achieving union representation at NXP’s Cabuyao facility in the country, which is located in a special economic zone notorious for hostility towards unions.

When MWAP workers attempted to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with NXP, the company responded by firing all 24 members of the union’s leadership under the pretext that their failure to work on a number of public holidays mounted to an illegal strike.

There is a growing global campaign in support of the sacked Filipino workers. As well as protests around the world, 15 IndustriALL affiliates in the Philippines have signed a powerful statement of solidarity in support of MWAP.

NXP has operations in over 25 countries. Formerly a Philips division, in 2013 NXP reported revenue of US$ 4.82 billion. As well as being key supplier to Apple, its customers include major employers of IndustriALL members including Bosch, Continental and Samsung among others.

IndustriALL Global Union represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors.

For more information, please contact:

Communications Officer 
Leonie Guguen 
+41 22 308 50 23 
[email protected]

Communications Officer 
Tom Grinter 
+41796934499 
[email protected]