Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Photo, courtesy of Altermidya

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776488626821672388731_1449474457219698_7169509782702960456_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers at Kowloon House on West Avenue, Quezon City go on strike over unimplemented pay increases. Photo courtesy of Altermidya</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A workers’ strike at a dimsum restaurant and commissary in Quezon City has reached its fourth day, with picketers asking for franchisees’ understanding and support during the halt in production.</p><p>Dimsum Production workers at Kowloon House on West Avenue, Quezon City said they voted to go on strike over a pay gap of more than P100 from previous wage orders and from their Collective Bargaining Agreement that have yet to be implemented.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/7/inflation-quickens-to-4-1-percent-in-march-0905">Inflation quickens to 4.1 percent in March as fuel, transport costs surge<br/></a></div><p>“Nawa’y maunawaan niyo ang aming pinanggagalingan, dahil pare-pareho tayong nagsusumikap na buhayin ang ating mga pamilya at pasiyahin ang ating mga minamahal na customer,” the striking workers <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kilusangmayouno/posts/pfbid0yrFzjoHjXjJfgrDAbx4Sur14oBNDXEejUdTxVFtNRrqP1hSXwMKhDV3EJcFciYKGl">said in an open letter</a> to Kowloon House franchisees.</p><p>(We hope you understand where we are coming from because we are all working to support our families and to serve our beloved customers)</p><p>The workers asked Kowloon House franchisees to refrain from ordering dimsum until they reach an agreement with owner Katipunan Food Services Inc.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776487689175670960049_939612081995984_771823459693479800_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Striking workers and their supporters at the picket line on West Avenue, Quezon City. GLOWHRAIN-KMU photo release</span></span></span></div><p>According to the Genuine Labor Organization of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant, and Allied Industries – Kilusang Mayo Uno, the dimsum workers had proposed a P25 wage increase “strictly based on mandated increases already owed to them” under a CBA, which Katipunan Food Services countered with an offer of a P13 a day increase.</p><p>The union said in an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/glowhrain/posts/pfbid02SKeKb77DUndCzBiHz6uy66Boh28GwqAJQCWnAMyXxrJUpKNQ7keKFd2KKTfs77VMl?__cft__[0]=AZYY3jJJ19kBIikFlXKMdZhbZDpFsyCnhRUX6f2DuG2FtSSt1BTW1O0H86kUkiCz4qKcFpf5LBWJPEDo5EnKn3nZMEzN6esN5bBVDBpNcickT3BCa-WjS1x4IFYYpQOkKJb6Gizx_wyqOMkSonkja9qnGraEXwnpp9pPyiCVOCFe-Z2nIbPHKM1btH9hJFkcl98&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">April 8 statement</a> after workers voted to strike that the company made the lower offer “despite an accumulated P104 wage gap over the past three years.”</p><p>The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for the National Capital Region has issued four wage orders since 2023 increasing the minimum wage in Metro Manila.</p><p>Wage Order NCR-23 mandated a P33 increase in the daily wage, followed by similar orders in 2024 (P40/day increase), 2025 (P35/day) and earlier this year (P50). </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/17/philippines-us-to-build-economic-security-zone-in-luzon-1326">Poor households hardest hit by soaring oil prices—study<br/></a></div><p>The union also said the dimsum workers had been deprived of around P500,000 in Service Charge benefits it said should have been distributed to staff over the past three years.</p><p>“Araw-araw gumagawa kami ng tig-6,000 hanggang 7,000 na siomai at siopao kaya kumikita sila ng P400,000 pero patuloy na binabarat ang aming sahod,” the workers said in their open letter.</p><p>(We make 6,000 to 7,000 siomai and siopao a day, which could make a profit of P400,000 but they refuse to raise our wages)</p><p>Strikes are often a last option for workers when negotiations with management fail or are deadlocked.</p><p>Labor unions and activist groups have expressed support for the strike through statements, by visiting the picket line and by dropping of support and supplies at strike centers.</p><p>Artists as well as music promotions Sleeping Boy Collective and The Flying Lugaw have also expressed solidarity with the dimsum production workers.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsleepingboycollective%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0XrcaZCp7EAQDGis17yMtu9boVts1TRUZPwREX47etoxb98C2Yr844kuvwCmK6qQol&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="752" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>The two productions organize events at Mow&#x27;s, a bar and gig venue at the Kowloon House branch on nearby Matalino Street.</p>

<p>A workers’ strike at a dimsum restaurant and commissary in Quezon City has reached its fourth day, with picketers asking for franchisees’ understanding and support during the halt in production.</p>

A workers’ strike at a dimsum restaurant and commissary in Quezon City has reached its fourth day, with picketers asking for franchisees’ understanding and support during the halt in production.

Dimsum workers seek understanding, support amid strike over unpaid pay hikes

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Dimsum workers seek understanding, support amid strike over unpaid pay hikes

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 18, 2026 01:24 PM PHT

|

Updated April 23, 2026 07:37 PM PHT

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Kowloon House

Workers

Strike

Labor rights

Wages

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