APCHRP: Success of striking Kowloon House employees a demonstration of the power of collective action
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) congratulates the GLOWHRAIN-KMU-Kowloon House West Chapter and all workers of the Chinese restaurant chain, on the success of their strike against the Kowloon House restaurant management. After six days of halted production, this triumph by Kowloon House employees demonstrates that through the strength of collective action – uniting workers with other sectors—democratic rights can be defended and won.
The Kowloon House management initially refused to engage meaningfully with the workers, forcing the negotiations into a second round held yesterday at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board between the workers and the capitalist management of Kowloon. Through steadfast struggle, the workers secured a daily wage increase of twenty pesos. They also won back ₱570,000 in long-overdue stolen service charges, to be returned through a staggered payment scheme that management had withheld for an extended period.
Before these gains were achieved, the workers endured relentless harassment from the company’s owners. Stephen Ng, the restaurant owner’s son, personally confronted and verbally abused the striking workers. Private security forces were deployed to seize equipment, products, and documents belonging to the striking workers. The Kowloon management also mobilized police forces to intimidate the striking workers, with armed officers carrying high-powered firearms being deployed near the picket line to confront the unarmed workers. These actions expose the collusion between capitalists and state forces to suppress legitimate labor struggles and safeguard corporate interests.
The victory of this strike is a powerful assertion of the workers’ collective strength in the fight for a society free from exploitation. History has repeatedly shown that through united and militant action, the people can win their rights and advance their struggle for genuine social transformation.
Long live the workers of Kowloon!
Long live the genuinely militant and patriotic unions!
Long live the Filipino working class!
