Kowloon House workers face possible layoffs after strike win

Union flags a potential CBA breach of the “no retaliatory action” clause over planned branch closure.

Workers who just secured a labor win are now facing job loss, as a reported shutdown of a Kowloon House branch threatens to displace more than 50 employees shortly after what the union described as a successful strike.

The union group Glowhrain-KMU said management of Kowloon House operator KMN informed workers of the planned closure through a meeting and a circulated memo without prior consultation.

The “no retaliatory action” conflict

The move affects dozens of staff who had been with Kowloon’s West Avenue branch for years. Many of them are union members covered by the recently signed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The development comes just days after workers ended a six-day strike that led to a new CBA, which included a “no retaliatory action” clause between both parties. The union argued that the reported closure could potentially violate this provision, as affected workers are part of the recognized bargaining unit.

In response, the group has raised the issue to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, seeking intervention regarding what it described as a potential breach of agreement. A protest action has also been planned as part of broader labor calls for better wages and job security.