By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
September 21, 2011
PETALING JAYA, Sept 21 — The oppression of and discrimination against union groups by government-linked companies (GLCs) are on the rise, and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) says they want Putrajaya to take action.
MTUC president Khalid Atan said that the government should ensure that union groups are not subject to abuse by GLCs and that this was a “reform” that the government should guarantee.
“We are questioning the government. Why are these problems happening to GLCs? We want the government to fix these problems.
“Stop your union-busting tactics … where is the freedom of union groups? Don’t let the unions be marginalised … if you can abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA), can’t you do this?” Khalid told reporters here.
The MTUC president was responding to complaints lodged by several union groups with him, whose representatives were also present at a news conference today — National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE), Malaysian Airlines System Employees’ Union Peninsular Malaysia (MASEU), Peninsular Malaysia Electronic Workers’ Union (Ksiewbsm), The Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM) and Airod Executive Union (KEA).
“When you look at the MAS-AirAsia deal, the terms of the collaboration are unclear. No MAS employee knows what is going on.
“How this impacts workers, we do not know. This is the dilemma. MAS, a GLC, owes an explanation to its workers,” added Khalid, in reference to airline employees’ outcry over a recent share-swap deal between the national carrier and AirAsia.
Khalid also called Maybank’s endorsement of a new in-house union a form of “anti-union discrimination” against NUBE, and that NUBE should be the only recognised union for Maybank employees.
The 50-year-old NUBE is representing some 5,000 Maybank workers who have been locked in a dispute with their employer since June 2009 over bonus claims and the legality of an in-house union for non-executive personnel.
Airod union president Shatiri Mansor said that 14 of the company’s employees had had their contracts “unfairly” terminated for being involved in a picket last June.
He said that the 14 employees have yet to receive their final pay, adding that they had to go through Hari Raya without any form of compensation or payment.
Shatiri said that complaints have been filed with the Human Resource Ministry but no action has been taken against Airod so far.
“Menteri kata akan tengok … tapi tengok sahaja, buat belum buat apa-apa.” (The minister said he would look into it, but has yet to act.)
“Where are the union groups’ rights to negotiate?” asked Khalid.
Anjung Kiri 