The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) has lodged police reports against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for alleged abuse of power and breach of trust.
According to its general secretary J Solomon, Sim had allegedly sidelined workers in favour of negotiations with their employers, represented by the Malayan Commercial Banks’ Association (MCBA), for a festival aid payment.
Solomon said the police reports were lodged by Nube representatives nationwide, claiming Sim "clandestinely" discussed with MCBA about the festival aid for 2024 without the knowledge of the union's national executive council.
Solomon said that Nube signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MCBA on Apr 5, 2023, for banks to pay a month's salary as festival aid to its members and the payment will be reviewed by both parties the following year.
The one-month salary was paid out as stated in the MOA last year, he noted. Beginning last Dec, Nube reminded MCBA of the agreement and began the reconciliation process for the payment.
"Although reconciliation was still ongoing, the minister - without the knowledge and consent of Nube - had interfered and worked with MCBA and got the banks to pay the clerical and special grade clerical members of Nube only a half-month salary, contrary to the MOA.
"Further, it is regretted that contrary to the MOA, the minister had also agreed with MCBA that this shall be a one-off payment for all categories of Nube members," Solomon said in a statement today.
On April 5, Solomon held a press conference, accusing Sim of sidelining workers in favour of negotiations with MCBA for festival aid payment.
“The minister cannot meet with MCBA when there is a trade dispute between two parties.
“He cannot meet them (MCBA) in private without both parties being present,” he was reported as saying then.
‘Oppresive’
Meanwhile, Solomon accused the minister of being oppressive against Nube members.
He added that the purported abuse of power and "betrayal" by the minister had affected 15,000 bank workers in the B40 and M40 categories.
"As a minister, Sim is supposed to include all parties when discussing matters about a dispute.
“However, Sim had failed to do so. He only discussed with MCBA and sidelined Nube. This had unduly affected the rights of our members.
"This action by Sim has caused us to lose confidence in him. It is obvious that the speech by Sim that he wants to enrich cooperation with trade unions is merely a play-act of Kesuma (Human Resources Ministry) or "sandiwara Kesuma"," decried Solomon.
Met at a function in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, Sim refused to comment, saying he would let the Industrial Court handle the matter. - Mkini
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