International group urges PM to tackle alleged union-busting by banks

 

NUBE members have been holding a series of lunch-time pickets at several banks across the country since last month. (NUBE pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

An international grouping of trade unions has written to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to urge him to tackle alleged union-busting by banks against the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE).

The International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) Asia Pacific chapter claimed a series of union-busting actions were being undertaken by several banks, led by one particular bank.

The ITUC asked Anwar, who is also finance minister, to intervene and immediately put an end to any union-busting against the NUBE, and to order the banks to hold dialogue with the union.

This, it said, was crucial to ensuring harmony between workers and bosses within the banking sector as well as the fair treatment of bank staff.

“ITUC believes that your esteemed office, with its commitment to justice and fairness, will take the necessary steps to address these critical issues.

“We urge you to bring all relevant parties to the negotiation table to resolve these matters in a manner that upholds the dignity of workers and the integrity of the Malaysian banking sector.

We trust that you will give this matter your immediate and serious attention,

 said ITUC Asia Pacific general secretary Shoya Yoshida in a press release issued by the NUBE.

FMT has reached out to the Association of Banks Malaysia for comment.

NUBE members have been holding a series of lunch-time pickets at several banks across the country since last month.

The union said the protests were to highlight various issues, including persistent alleged union-busting attempts by the respective bank management, exorbitant salaries paid to CEOs, access to training, fair pay and a safe environment in which to work. - FMT