Gardenia workers allege union-busting tactics

Union claims management forced leave filings and failed to replace vacant roles, breaching CBA provisions.

Gardenia factory workers are decrying alleged violations of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA), calling on labor authorities to immediately address their filed formal complaint.

On June 2, protesting Gardenia workers from the Biñan, Laguna factory claimed that the company violated a CBA that was bilaterally approved in August 2025.

Gardenia allegedly neglected to replace the roles of retired and deceased employees—bringing down union membership to 297, when the company supposedly agreed to a clause requiring a minimum of 315 unionized workers.

Additionally, workers intending to file grievance procedures claim to have been forced by Gardenia management to avail of union-covered leave—which the workers claim is a “union busting” tactic.

Unyon ng mga Panadero sa Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. (PANADERO)—a union representing nearly 300 Gardenia factory workers—demanded prompt action from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for their formal complaint against Gardenia management.

PANADERO, organized under Organized Labor Associations in Line Industries and Agriculture (Olalia) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), also alleged other instances of worker suppression earlier this year. The union said workers had been issued a memo prohibiting the sharing of political opinions, while some were allegedly faced with insubordination cases for missing work amid unclear employment statuses.

READ: