About 60 National Union of Bank Employee (NUBE) members brought out their placards and kompangs to picket against Maybank at the bank's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
The members are unhappy over the leading bank's unsatisfactory response to bonus claims and the legality of an in-house union for non-executive staff.
Singing union songs and blowing whistles in what felt like a carnival atmosphere despite a slight drizzle, the group appeared to catch the attention of the prime minister over the dispute which has been on-going since June 2009.
According to NUBE secretary general J Solomon, the bank had over the past ten years paid up to eight months bonus to senior management but “not a single sen” to its NUBE members who are clerical and non-clerical staff of Maybank.
“We have met with (PM Najib Abdul Razak) last year to discuss the issue, but it has not been solved,” he said.
Najib (left), who was in the building to launch the bank's new corporate identity, however never made contact with the group today.
While the police never stopped the picket, media personnel who were carrying NUBE press statements were asked to throw the piece of paper away before entering the building to attend the function there.
“What we are questioning is whether the PM is supporting the tyranny and brutality of Maybank,” Solomon said.
'NUBE intimidating our happy staff'
Responding to this, however, Maybank CEO Abdul Wahid Omar said that the picketers are not Maybank staff, who are actually “happy” with their employer.
Speaking to reporters after the event with Najib, he said NUBE had picketed to intimidate Maybank staff who are dissatisfied with the union and want to set up an in-house union.
“(The staff) had even obtained permission from the Human Resources Ministry, but this decision is being challenged by NUBE in court.
“Those picketing are not Maybank staff but staff of other banks and NUBE's full-time staff,” he said.
He added that the allegations that the bank did not pay bonuses are “absolutely false” and that it has a collective agreement with NUBE to pay the union's members who are Maybank staff two months' bonus.
“Our year-end is in June and we always pay on time.
“Given our good performance we have also paid out ex-gratia payments to our clerical and non-clerical staff of RM750 to RM1,500 per employee, paid out before Hari Raya,” he said.
Earlier, Najib announced that Maybank has increased its profit before tax by 16 percent compared to the year ending June 2010, to RM4.5 billion, making it a leading financial player.
In his speech the PM lauded the bank's innovation and performance and sought its support for the government's policies like the first home scheme, green technologies and new innovations.
“These are some of the ways to help the Malaysian economy prosper.
“We have to look at new sources of growth. You cannot say no to news technology or products that you are familiar with,” he said.
The members are unhappy over the leading bank's unsatisfactory response to bonus claims and the legality of an in-house union for non-executive staff.Singing union songs and blowing whistles in what felt like a carnival atmosphere despite a slight drizzle, the group appeared to catch the attention of the prime minister over the dispute which has been on-going since June 2009.
According to NUBE secretary general J Solomon, the bank had over the past ten years paid up to eight months bonus to senior management but “not a single sen” to its NUBE members who are clerical and non-clerical staff of Maybank.
“We have met with (PM Najib Abdul Razak) last year to discuss the issue, but it has not been solved,” he said.Najib (left), who was in the building to launch the bank's new corporate identity, however never made contact with the group today.
While the police never stopped the picket, media personnel who were carrying NUBE press statements were asked to throw the piece of paper away before entering the building to attend the function there.
“What we are questioning is whether the PM is supporting the tyranny and brutality of Maybank,” Solomon said.
'NUBE intimidating our happy staff'
Responding to this, however, Maybank CEO Abdul Wahid Omar said that the picketers are not Maybank staff, who are actually “happy” with their employer.
Speaking to reporters after the event with Najib, he said NUBE had picketed to intimidate Maybank staff who are dissatisfied with the union and want to set up an in-house union.
“(The staff) had even obtained permission from the Human Resources Ministry, but this decision is being challenged by NUBE in court.“Those picketing are not Maybank staff but staff of other banks and NUBE's full-time staff,” he said.
He added that the allegations that the bank did not pay bonuses are “absolutely false” and that it has a collective agreement with NUBE to pay the union's members who are Maybank staff two months' bonus.
“Our year-end is in June and we always pay on time.
“Given our good performance we have also paid out ex-gratia payments to our clerical and non-clerical staff of RM750 to RM1,500 per employee, paid out before Hari Raya,” he said.Earlier, Najib announced that Maybank has increased its profit before tax by 16 percent compared to the year ending June 2010, to RM4.5 billion, making it a leading financial player.
In his speech the PM lauded the bank's innovation and performance and sought its support for the government's policies like the first home scheme, green technologies and new innovations.
“These are some of the ways to help the Malaysian economy prosper.
“We have to look at new sources of growth. You cannot say no to news technology or products that you are familiar with,” he said.
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