The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) has lodged a second round of police reports against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for alleged abuse of power.
General secretary J Solomon said it is due to Sim (above) referring the dispute between Nube and the Malayan Commercial Banks’ Association (MCBA) over festival aid payment to the Industrial Court while the matter is still under conciliation with the director-general of Industrial Relations (DGIR).
According to Solomon, Nube attended two conciliation meetings at the Industrial Relations Department on March 21 and March 27, where they were informed that there was still space for discussions in reaching a settlement.
“On April 18, 2024 (the same day Nube lodged the first police report), Nube received an email from the Industrial Court stating that the dispute had been referred to the Industrial Court.
“Nube was shocked as on March 27, 2024, Nube was informed by the DGIR that there was still space for discussion to settle the dispute. The DGIR knew MCBA had not exhausted its internal remedies with Nube,” Solomon said in a statement today.
He added that a dispute should only be referred to the Industrial Court if there was a “deadlock” between the parties involved, which was not so in this case.
Solomon stressed that the DGIR’s office did not inform Nube that the matter has been referred to the Industrial Court and the union only found out about it via the email mentioned.
‘Violated minister’s powers’
Solomon further questioned the “odd actions” by the Industrial Court in sending three notices with the same contents to Nube on the matter.
He alleged that Sim violated his ministerial powers by acting contrary to provisions under the Industrial Relations Act 1967.
“This is an offence under Section 166 of the Penal Code. Nube calls upon the police to investigate this matter as the actions by Sim resulted in about 15,000 Nube members in the B40 and M40 categories and the union suffering unnecessary losses,” Solomon said.
The first police reports against Sim were lodged nationwide, claiming the minister had “clandestinely” discussed with MCBA about the festival aid for 2024 without the knowledge of the union’s national executive council.
Nube signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MCBA on April 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.
Solomon previously noted that the one-month salary was paid out as stated in the MOA last year.
Beginning last December, Nube reminded MCBA of the agreement and started the reconciliation process for the payment.
However, Sim had allegedly interfered and worked with MCBA without the knowledge and consent of Nube while the conciliation was ongoing and got the banks to pay the clerical and special grade clerical members of Nube only a half-month salary, contrary to the MOA. - Mkini
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