Stop defaming us, Nufam warns ex-crew members

PETALING JAYA: The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has warned that legal action will be taken against former Malaysia Airlines crew members for tarnishing its reputation on social media.

The union said it was aware that some former crew members had posted on social media that membership fees were deducted without their consent.

Some of the crew members had also apparently claimed that they were not aware they were members of the organisation and questioned why these deductions were made.

“Nufam is concerned over recent viral social media posts sent by some former crew members on Facebook and other social platform which have put the organisation in a bad light.

“We would like to reiterate that such allegations are unfounded.

“Allegations of not being members or otherwise, either with the previous or present company, should not warrant any member to simply react without checking the facts and details,” the union said in a statement issued by secretary-general Mohd Akram Osman.

The statement said if the allegation by those who claimed they were never members of the union was true, then their details, including their account details for auto debit, would not be in Nufam’s database.

It also said checks had found that some former crew members who had left Malaysia Airlines did not make any official cancellation of their membership, either to the union or to the bank to cancel their auto debit.

“It was stated that they were not aware their memberships were still active until some of the membership deductions appeared (in bank statements).

“Some crew members have also not submitted their relevant documents for audit purposes. Some did not submit proper documents to us when they left the company.”

Nufam said under clause 5 of the union’s constitution, the members have to notify the organisation of their resignation by advance notice to the secretary-general.

“We have always kept these records in our data system for any legal disputes that may arise and members can always check with us.

“Some even went to the extent of claiming that our union was ‘illegally operating and taking money’. There was no merit to their cases but they went on to publish (these accusations) in public forums without any evidence given.

“Our legal advisers have deemed these statements quite damaging to our organisation’s image and reputation.”

Nufam said this was the third notice it was issuing to all former and existing Malaysia Airlines crew members on the matter.

It urged former crew members to contact the union for a better understanding of such issues, including disputes that had been filed in the court.

Nufam said it had refunded membership fees due to double deductions following appeals and evidence supplied by members. -FMT