Workers picket after electronics firm "stonewalls" union talks

Workers of an electronics firm in Banting held a picket today, accusing the company of "stonewalling" negotiations on a union collective agreement.

This comes three years after the company, Renesas Semiconductor KL Sdn Bhd, was found guilty of union-busting by the Industrial Court.

Electronic Industry Employees’ Union Western Region, Peninsular Malaysia (EIEUWR) general secretary Bruno Periera told Malaysiakini that some 200 workers turned up for the picket.

He said another 200 workers meanwhile worked in the factory while wearing the union's uniform.

In a statement earlier, he said the union had forwarded a collective agreement proposal consisting of 58 articles to the company on June 2018.

However, he said, as of today, the two sides have only concluded an agreement to only 15 articles.

Periera said the slow pace of negotiations is because Renesas allegedly only allocates several hours a month for talks with the union, and have rejected calls for weekly meetings.

"At the current rate the collective agreement perhaps shall be concluded in another year or maybe two," he said.

He also alleged that the company has rejected and refused to negotiate on three articles namely on the effective date and duration of the agreement, the language and copies of the agreement, and check-offs for union dues.

"The company with a history of inherent anti-union behaviour continues to stonewall the collective agreement negotiation," Pereira said.

Malaysiakini has contacted Renesas for comment.

Pereira said that the workers will picket again next Friday and the Friday after that.

They are also mulling taking their case to the Industrial Court.

The EIEUWR was formed in 2009, and Renesas was the first company where it organised a union.

However, the company rejected a claim of recognition by the union in Jan 2010 and subsequently tried to form an in-house union.

The union's first president was sacked by Renesas in 2011 for allegedly maligning the company on his Facebook page. The court had found that this was a union-busting tactic.

Pereira said the Renesas' appeals against the union-busting verdict were dismissed at the High Court and Court of Appeal. - Mkini