Training for women trade union organisers in Asia

“Women Leading, Women Organising” – Training for women trade union organisers in Asia

APWLD invites applications for its “Women Leading, Women Organising” – Training for women trade union organisers in Asia

which will be held on 18- 21 December 2014 in Chiang Mai, Thailand

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 17 October 2014, Friday.

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) will convene the Asia Pacific Regional workshop “Women Leading, Women Organising” in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 18 to 21 December 2014. This participatory workshop will focus on enhancing the capacity, leadership and voice of women in trade unions across the Asia-Pacific region.

People can apply based on the following criteria:
• APWLD members as well as non-members from across Asia Pacific may apply.
• Women delegates, organisers, trade union leaders (both registered and un-registered, informal unions or associations are eligible)
• The workshop and learning material will be in English. Applicants who are not proficient in English may be considered where another participant can support translation. Trade unions may nominate two participants with one being an English speaker.

Cost of the Training and Sponsorship:
APWLD will cover costs of boarding and lodging for the 4-days training period. In addition, APWLD will also cover costs of discounted economy airfare, visa fee, airport tax, travel tax. Only selected candidates will be contacted for further details.

Procedure:
All applicants should submit a completed application form and send it along with their Curriculum Vitae.The recommending institution/organisation should certify that the person recommended has worked in or aspire to involve in leadership roles and decision making positions within the organisation and is committed to applying the core learning points of the training in her future work.

To apply, visit http://apwld.org/asia-pacific-regional-women-leadership-in-trade-unions-training/

Deadline for Applications 17 October 2014

To apply via email, send your completed application form, together with your CV and endorsement letter from your organization to APWLD to the attention of: Wint Thiri Aung (Ms.) wint@apwld.org; and CC buai@apwld.org and apwld@apwld.org

For applications through email, please indicate in the subject line “Application for Regional Women Leadership in Trade Unions Training 2014”
Application must be lodged no later than Friday 17 October 2014.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

MTUC ada protes atau hantar memo mengenai pemecatan 40 ahli Union RUM oleh KTMB?

Ada protes pekerja di tengah Kuala Lumpur pada petang ini(3/10/2014, Jumaat) tapi jika dicari 'internet', gambaran yang diberikan seolah-olah tak ada apa-apa protes. 

 

Saya jumpa hanya satu lapuran, iaitu dalam Sinar Harian - itu pun tak ada gambar protes, yang sangat warna-warni, dengan bendera, dan banner(kain rentang) - media biasa dalam keadaan ini akan mengambil gambar dan akan keluar lapuran dengan satu dua gambar....tetapi?

Adakah terdapat pihak yang 'mengawal' media massa di Malaysia sehinggakan isu-isu pekerja dan Union tak dilapurkan media massa, TV, radio, dsb...Atau journalist dan media sendiri tidak menganggap isu pekerja dan kesatuan isu yang cukup serius untuk dilapurkan? Bukankah pemberita itu juga ada Union - NUJ? Takkkan tidak mahu tunjuk solidariti dengan pekerja lain....

Tapi media alternatif pun nampaknya tidak memberikan liputan? ...kecuali Malaysiakini dalam Edisi Melayu sahaja...

Adakah MTUC penganjur aktiviti ini gagal memberikan publisiti sewajarnya - pergi laman web MTUC sebelum acara ini, tak nampak apa-apa notis pun....

Adakah MTUC atau mereka yang dipertanggungjawab memaklumkan kepada pihak media mengenai penghantaran memorandum MTUC? 

Adakah MTUC menyediakan kenyataan media untuk diedarkan kepada pemberita yang hadhir....(dan memfakskan kepada media yang tak hadhir)... saya pergi ke laman web MTUC, tak ada apa pun mengenai apa yang berlaku petang Jumaat (3/10/2014)...

Satu lagi soalan penting - kenapa tak sambai beribu-ribu pekerja yang turun padang Jumaat ini... Adakah MTUC dan Union ahli MTUC tidak lagi mempunyai keupayaan membawa ahli mereka sendiri? Atau adakah pekerja di tahun 2014 hanya prihatin isu diri sendiri dan keluarga sahaja - tidak akan keluar menuntut keadilan untuk rakan pekerja yang lain? Tapi, bukankah untuk banyak isu yang lain ribuan turun padang walaupun ada bahaya water cannon, ditangkap polis, dituduh di Mahkamah, hilang kerja... 

Kita perlu menganalisa keadaan untuk sampai kepada sebab akar-umbi yang menyebabkan selalu sangat MTUC yang ahlinya ada lebih kurang 800,000 kerap tak berjaya menarik lebih banyak pekerja untuk aktiviti protes, penghantaran memo, dsb... 

4:21PM - 3 Oct 2014

MTUC desak KTMB ambil semula pekerja

Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) hari ini mendesak Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) agar mengembalikan semula pekerjaan kakitangannya yang diberhentikan sebelum ini.

Memorandum itu dihantar ke pejabat KTM, petang ini.

Dianggarkan seramai 70 orang pemimpin kesatuan pekerja dan 100 orang pekerja KTM turut hadir bagi menghantar memorandum kepada Pengerusi KTMB, Datuk Ir Nawawi Ahmad.

Sebelum memorandum diserahkan, sebahagian daripada mereka yang hadir melaungkan "Hidup KTMB! Bangkit pekerja!"

Sebahagian yang lain memalu gendang berselang-seli dengan laungan tersebut.

Kenderaan yang lalu di jalan berhampiran stesen keretapi Kuala Lumpur itu turut membunyikan hon dipercayai tanda menyokong himpunan itu.

Polis turut kelihatan mengawal lalu lintas dan kawasan perkarangan KTMB sepanjang himpunan berlangsung.

Menurut Presiden Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Keretapi Tanah Melayu (RUM), Abdul Razak Md Hassan, sehingga hari ini seramai 40 orang pekerja KTMB dibuang kerja dan 16 orang lagi digantung kerja kerana meyertai piket pada 9 Mei lalu.

Timbalan Pengerusi MTUC, N Gopal Krishnan berkata mereka akan berpiket di hadapan Parlimen sekiranya tuntutan dalam memorandum itu gagal ditunaikan KTMB.

"Hari ini kita akan hantar memorandum, kalau kita tidak dapat respons yang baik kita akan ambil satu tindakan yang lain seperti kita akan pergi ke Parlimen"

"Jika tidak selesai juga kita akan pergi ke pejabat perdana menteri kerana KTM ialah satu syarikat GLC (berkaitan kerajaan) di bawah Kementerian Kewangan dan perdana menteri juga adalah menteri kewangan," katanya.

Tambah Gopal, mereka ada menghantar surat kepada perdana menteri dan menteri pengangkutan berkenaan hal ini namun belum menerima jawapan. - malaysiakini, 3/10/2014, MTUC desak KTMB ambil semula pekerja

KTMB dituntut ambil semula pekerja dipecat

3 Oktober 2014

KUALA LUMPUR - Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) hari ini menyerahkan memorandum kepada Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) supaya mengambil semula 40 pekerja KTMB yang dipecat baru-baru ini.

Setiausaha Agung MTUC, N.Gopal Krihsnam yang menyerahkan memorandum itu berkata, tindakan KTMB memecat pekerja mereka yang terlibat dalam piket pada Mei lepas adalah sesuatu yang tidak wajar.

Katanya, kesemua pekerja terlibat itu adalah anggota Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (RUM) dan tindakan itu dilihat sebagai mencabuli hak bersuara pekerja.

"Tindakan KTMB adalah satu kesalahan dan bertentangan dengan Perjanjian Bersama dan Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan (Akta 177) kerana telah mengambil

tindakan tatatertib terhadap pemimpin dan anggota kesatuan yang melakukan aktiviti kesatuan sekerja," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita selepas menyerahkan memorandum berkenaan.

Memorandum itu diserahkan kepada Pengerusi Lembaga Pengarah KTMB, Datuk Ir Nawawi Ahmad di ibu pejabat KTMB di sini.

Pada 9 Mei lepas, kira-kira 700 pekerja KTMB berhimpun di hadapan ibu pejabat syarikat itu bagi menuntut perkhidmatan Presiden KTMB Datuk Elias Kadir ditamatkan.

Lanjutan dari piket berkenaan, 110 pekerja yang juga ahli RUM diberikan surat tunjuk sebab manakala 40 daripadanya termasuk Presiden RUM Abdul Razak Md Hassan dikenakan tindakan buang kerja dua minggu lepas.

"Kita percaya akan lebih ramai yang menerima surat tunjuk sebab akan menerima nasib yang sama," katanya.

Gopal Krishnam berkata jika pengurusan KTMB masih enggan melayan tuntutan mereka, MTUC akan menyerahkan memorandum yang sama kepada Perdana  Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di bangunan Parlimen pada 7 Oktober ini. - Bernama

Lab

STRIKE atau MOGOK dibenarkan undang-undang - haruskah Union mula mengunakan STRIKE sebagai cara menutut hak dan menentang ketidakadilan?

STRIKE atau Mogok adalah tindakan yang boleh digunakan Union dan pekerja di Malaysia untuk menuntut hak ... Berikut beberapa lapuran berita mengenai tindakan 'strike' - yang berlaku di United Kingdom, Australia, France dan Africa Selatan... di mana tuntutan untuk gaji yang lebih baik, menuntut mereka yang kerja kontrak dijadikan pekerja regular sehingga persaraan, menuntut hak untuk bersara secara optional pada umur 55 tahun dan terus menerima 60% gaji sehingga tarikh persaraan 60 tahun, .... 

 

Pekerja membersih tandas di Melbourne, Australia akan buat strike - membantah pengunaan pekerja yang dibekalkan oleh subcontractor (tidak mahu lagi pekerja di ambil melalui sistem 'contractor for labour' atau pekerja 'outsourcing'). Mereka juga membantah pengunaan pelajar sebagai pekerja sementara....

 

Siapa yang MOGOK? Juruterbang, pekerja Pos, pembawa ambulan dan pekerja sektor kesihatan, pekerja pembersih tandas, cikgu, dll...

 

Kalau pergi dan buat carian di internet, nyata bahawa pekerja di banyak negara termasuk negara membangun dan maju terus kerap mengadakan STRIKE sebagai cara perjuangan hak.... Di Malaysia, pun boleh diadakan strike tetapi malangnya Union dan pekerja sudah hampir tidak mengunakan STRIKE - kenapa? Adakah ini kerana hak pekerja dan Union tidak dinafikan? Atau... 

 

Secara sah, Union boleh mengambil tindakan strike - bukan MTUC. Mengadakan Mesyurat Agung Tergempar atau mesyurat ahli kesatuan membincangkan sama ada mahu MOGOK atau tidak juga tak kedengaran di Malaysia. Undi sulit mendapatkan sokongan majoriti ahli untuk MOGOK pun tak kedengaran... 

 

MOGOK boleh diadakan berasaskan undang-undang di Malaysia ... jadi mengapa Union di Malaysia tak pun mengugut akan buat STRIKE...atau mengambil langkah perlu saperti terkandung dalam undang-undang ke arah kemungkinan mengadakan MOGOK...

 

RISIKO memang ada ... tapi kini jika pemimpin Union mengeluarkan kenyataan pun dibuang kerja. Ahli Union yang menambil bahagian dalam piket secara aman pun kena buang kerja... Ahli Union yang pergi menghantar memorandum MTUC untuk mendapatkan komitmen mereka yang bertanding pilihanraya bahawa mereka akan berjuang untuk hak pekerja juga kena buang kerja... Bila pemimpin dan ahli Union kena buang kerja secara salah ini pun, kita tak lihat protes besar ahli-ahli union tersebut juga... Apakah yang sudah berlaku kepada pekerja dan Union di Malaysia... 

 

Taktik yang digunakan adalah membuat aduan - dan bila sampai kes tersebut di Mahkamah Perusahaan atau Mahkamah Buruh - tak nampak kehadiran ramai-ramai ahli memberi sokongan di Mahkamah pun...Mengapa?

 

Banyak runguttan kita lihat di kedai kopi, di FB, Whats App, dll - tetapi tak ada tindakan selepas itu. Bila G18 dibuang kerja dan mereka pergi ke Putrajaya untuk protes - yang hadhir hanya ahli kena buang dan keluarga mereka - mana di ahli-ahli Union lain - tak pun pergi menunjukkan solidariti ... wakil kepimpinan union berkenaan dan union lain yang  hadhir beberapa orang sahaja... 

Apa yang akan dilakukan pekerja dan Union di Malaysia akhirnya bergantung kepada keputusan mereka sendiri? Tetapi harus ditanya sama ada  tindakan yang diambil mungkin kerana sebab-sebab yang lain - sebab-sebab peribadi,.... Ini kena tanya?

Lufthansa pilots' 15-hour strike affects 9,000 travellers

FRANKFURT Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:14am BST

(Reuters) - Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) pilots threatened further strike action on Tuesday as they began a 15 hour walkout at Frankfurt airport in a row with management over retirement benefits that stretches back two years.

The pilots, represented by union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), are striking from 0600 (7 a.m. BST) to 2100 GMT (10 p.m. BST) on long-haul routes from Frankfurt, Europe's third-largest airport and Lufthansa's main hub.

The strike, affecting around 9,000 travellers, is the longest since a three-day nationwide walkout in April, and the union threatened more.
The pilots are trying to increase pressure on management to maintain a retirement scheme that gives pilots the option to retire from the age of 55 and still receive up to 60 percent of their pay until regular retirement.  - Reuters, 13/9/2014, Lufthansa pilots' 15-hour strike affects 9,000 travellers

 

1 October 2014 Last updated at 15:28

Ambulance staff in GMB vote for strike

Related Stories

• Midwives vote for strike action
• NHS workers plan four-hour strike
• NHS staff vote for strike action

Ambulance staff and other health workers in the GMB union have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay. 

In the ballot, 78% of members in England and Northern Ireland voted in favour of strike action. 

They will join other staff, including nurses, midwives and porters, in a four-hour walkout on 13 October.

Ministers have given NHS staff a 1% increase, but not for those who get automatic progression-in-the-job rises.

These are designed to reward professional development and are given to about half of staff and are worth 3% a year on average.

But the decision by ministers went against the recommendation of the independent pay review board, which had called for an across-the-board rise.

'Anger and frustration'

 

Brian Strutton, the GMB national secretary for public services, said: "Nobody in the NHS wants to go on strike, but the anger and frustration of the workforce with the cavalier treatment by government and employers towards them has spilled over into industrial unrest.

"GMB and the other trade unions on the staff side hope this programme of action will get some movement in this deadlock and we will plan further periods of action through the autumn and winter if it does not."

The GMB balloted 22,000 members in total, covering a range of jobs from ambulance crews to district nurses and cleaners.

The walkout will start at 07:00 and last for four hours. It will be followed by a period of working to rule.

The unions say urgent and emergency services will not be affected. Instead, they will target non-urgent care such as hospital outpatient appointments, routine surgery, patient transport and community clinics.

A total of 10 health unions have balloted members. Results from the biggest two - Unison and Unite - have already been announced. 

Both voted in favour of a strike, while Royal College of Midwives members are also taking action for the first time. All these unions balloted members in England only.

It is the first walkout over pay for 32 years. - BBC News, 1/10/2014, Ambulance staff in GMB vote for strike

Frustration mounts as Post Office strike continues

Workers are demanding a 15 percent salary hike and those with temporary contracts want permanent positions.

JOHANNESBURG - As the South African Post Office (Sapo) strike enters its second month,...Sapo has warned the strike is likely to drag on longer than expected because negotiations have reached a stalemate. Workers are demanding a 15 percent salary hike and those with temporary contracts want permanent positions. - EWN Eye Witness News, 1/10/2014, Frustration mounts as Post Office strike continues

Toilet cleaners' rolling strike may leave office workers short

Office workers may be forced to bring their own toilet paper to work, as cleaners at some of Melbourne's most prominent city buildings have vowed to stop cleaning toilets and replacing toilet paper until they get a pay rise.

About 400 cleaners who work for cleaning giant Consolidated Property Services - which provides cleaners for buildings including Freshwater Place, 101 Collins Street, the CBA building and Casseldon Place - began industrial action on Thursday after failing to reach an agreement with the company over better pay conditions....

The cleaners are also asking that Consolidated Property Services promise to avoid using subcontractors or exploiting international students by signing the "Clean Start" agreement. 

Ms Walsh said one major cleaning company, Glad, had committed to a 3 per cent pay rise for the next four years and ending subcontracting of international students as a source of cut-rate cleaners. 

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/toilet-cleaners-rolling-strike-may-leave-office-workers-short-20141002-10p27n.html#ixzz3Ey5wGhir

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/toilet-cleaners-rolling-strike-may-leave-office-workers-short-20141002-10p27n.html#ixzz3Ey5lEhBM

Waukegan Teachers Prepare for Possible Strike

Reynoldsburg teachers strike continues with no resolution in sight

 

Air France strike finally ends after lasting 14 days

NUFAM Media Statement - 25/9/2014

‎25 Sep 2014

PRESS STATEMENT.

MAS airline continues to sack their crew members without justice as this will be the fastest way to save cost on the company. 

2 senior Female crew and a Senior Male Flight Flight Attendant was recently terminated‎ without proper hearing. The manner these crew members were fired is very unbelievable. 

The National Union have been receiving too many reports in regards to crew members being terminated without notice and this injustice continues to remain very apparent as it fell on the deaf ears of the authorities too.

Who does MAS think they are? They acted above the law and could not careless on people's feelings. 

They fire Union leaders and crew members over trade disputes which they themselves fail to adhere. 

Worstly, they terminate employees on issues which does not make sense at all or even not giving a balance of fair inquiry to these employees. 

NUFAM have records of high suspension and termination over the past 2 years in MAS.

MAS is taking advantage worstly against crew members who have served the airline after so many years and they just ignore the principals of natural justice.

Where is justice for these workers whom have helped the airline during the bad times? Why are those in higher positions still remains in control when the airline fail to make money while they can continue to fire these crew employees without any notice? 

These questions have been raised to the Ministry of Human Resources for so long and it looks like there is no justice for these workers. There has been too many violations in MAS and they are getting away with it.

The National Union is all geared up to picket against MAS if this goes on and perhaps will call for strike if MAS continues to bully the crew members. 

Our crew has responsibilities to their lives and they are just human beings who makes mistakes, nothing that severe to kill their employment.

There seem to be no mercy in MAS today and what perplexes us most is they seem to get the blessings from the authorities.

The airline have in house policies which they created themselves without any consultations with the National Union and these policies mostly do not follow the basic Employment laws or guidelines. People are being axed almost every day and all the authorities could do is just watch and say nothing. 

NUFAM is urging the Minister of Human Resources to intervene immediately to this issue as it appears there is a silent blessing coming coming from him for employees and Union leaders to be sacked by MAS. 

Other Union leaders are also angry today at how the Industry have took a 360 turn against the workers as many of them who are Union members are fired for raising their concerns against the company. The Union Busting activity is getting out of hand. 

Is there really justice for workers here in this country? 

NUFAM wants the Ministry to stop haggling and do whats right for the workers, to protect them from employers who breaks the rule and to ensure employment policies and laws are prevailed. 

We have sufficient employment laws in place but most are not being practised by these companies as they are always being protected in some ways. 

END

NUFAM Secretariat |‎
Jalan 16- A, Persiaran Barat |
Level 28 PJ Exchange | HMS Shah Towers | 46050 Petaling Jaya
C | 03.7962.0000‎
T | 03. 7962. 0025
F | 03. 7962. 0001‎
E | nufamtheunion@nufam.org ‎

Pengecualiaan Gaji Minimum Kepada Majikan Mikro Nafi Hak Pekerja - Riot(Bernama)

Pengecualiaan Gaji Minimum Kepada Majikan Mikro Nafi Hak Pekerja - Riot

24 September 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Sept (Bernama) — Pengecualian gaji minimum kepada majikan-majikan mikro adalah suatu penafian hak kesamarataan kepada golongan pekerja yang majoritinya rakyat Malaysia, kata Menteri Sumber Manusia Datuk Richard Riot Jaem.

Beliau berkata golongan yang bekerja dengan majikan mikro lazimnya tidak mendapat sebarang elaun seperti mana yang dinikmati pekerja-pekerja dalam syarikat besar.

“Kebanyakan golongan sasar ini, termasuk pekerja bawah majikan mikro terdiri daripada golongan rentan dan sudah sewajarnya perlu diberi perlindungan melalui dasar gaji minimum,” kata Riot menerusi satu kenyataan di ibu negara, Selasa.

Menteri itu berkata demikian sebagai mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris (Malaymail), Isnin, yang melaporkan bahawa Persekutuan Majikan-majikan Malaysia (MEF) mencadangkan pelaksanaan gaji minimum dalam kalangan majikan mikro dikaji semula.

MEF membuat cadangan itu atas alasan majikan mikro menghadapi kesukaran untuk membayar gaji minimum.

Majikan mikro adalah majikan yang menggaji lima orang pekerja atau kurang.

Riot berkata objektif utama gaji minimum adalah untuk membantu golongan pekerja peringkat bawahan dan miskin memperoleh pendapatan yang mampu menyara kehidupan mereka.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata pengecualian gaji minimum kepada majikan mikro akan menyebabkan segolongan pekerja tidak dapat menikmati dasar kerajaan dan akan terus berada di bawah belenggu kemiskinan.

“Ini tidak menepati hasrat kerajaan untuk menjadi sebuah negara yang maju secara inklusif menjelang tahun 2020,” katanya.

MEF dinasihatkan agar membincangkan sebarang cadangan berhubung gaji minimum dalam mesyuarat Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara yang mana pandangan perwakilan pekerja dalam majlis itu dapat diperoleh sebelum diputuskan oleh kerajaan, katanya. –BERNAMA

Sumber: Bernama

10,000 Majikan Swasta Gagal Laksana Skim Gaji Minimum(Bernama)

10,000 Majikan Swasta Gagal Laksana Skim Gaji Minimum

20 September 2014 

 

MARAN, 20 Sept (Bernama) — Kira-kira 10,000 majikan swasta masih gagal melaksanakan Skim Gaji Minimum yang dikuatkuasakan pada 1 Januari tahun lepas, kata Timbalan Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib.

Beliau berkata kerajaan memandang serius tentang perkara itu walaupun bilangannya hanya lima peratus daripada 200,000 majikan berdaftar dengan Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) Kementerian Sumber Manusia.

“Pekerja berhak membuat aduan kepada JTK dan kementerian jika majikan masih gagal melaksanakan dasar tersebut.

“Mengikut rekod kementerian sehingga kini, tiga majikan dihadapkan ke mahkamah kerana gagal berbuat demikian,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Karnival Kerjaya Azam Kerja dan Kemahiran peringkat negeri di Dewan Jubli Perak di sini, Sabtu.

Sementara itu Ismail berkata sehingga Jun lepas kadar pengangguran negara mencatatkan penurunan iaitu hanya 2.8 peratus berbanding 3.1 peratus pada tahun lalu.

Katanya kadar itu antara yang rendah berbanding negara maju lain.

Anggota Parlimen Maran itu berkata antara faktor dikenal pasti berlakunya pengangguran adalah disebabkan mereka yang terlibat mencari pekerjaan yang lebih baik berdasarkan kelayakan dan kemahiran yang ada.

Beliau memberitahu, pencari kerja aktif berdaftar sehingga 1 Sept lalu berjumlah 403,897 orang dengan 231,169 daripadanya merupakan siswazah untuk mengisi 115,672 peluang pekerjaan.

Ismail berkata, mulai tahun hadapan Program Karnival Azam Kerja akan menjelajah ke setiap kawasan parlimen seluruh negara bagi membolehkan lebih ramai rakyat mendapat mendapatkan pekerjaan. — BERNAMA

Sumber: Bernama

Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security(Malaysian Insider)

Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security

Published: 24 September 2014 | Updated: 24 September 2014 1:03 PM

 

Nufam wants Malaysia Airlines to ensure the safety and security of its crew. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, 

 

September 24, 2014.The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has slammed the national carrier today over its alleged failure to take care of the safety and welfare of crew members, especially the female staff.

The union, in a statement, said crew members had been forced to travel to and from work on their own after a transport company outsourced by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for the purpose had allegedly neglected its duties.

The union said complaints had been ignored and the situation had persisted for some time, with the company giving excuses of not having designated drivers or vehicles available during the late and odd hours.
"Where are their vans and drivers then? Too many excuses had been given to us and we are sick and tired of it," the union said. Nufam said it was told that crew members had no choice but to go to work on their own; and many of the female crew members had raised concerns over their safety.

"They are often taken advantage of when using the public transport. Female crew members said they get stared at by men while taking the cabs or trains," the union said.

Nufam said crew members had also been victims of snatch thieves, although the cases were not officially reported.

The union said the transport service called "E-Smart Cab" was supposed to pick up staff from their homes to ensure they arrived on time for work but this had not been happening.

Often, the staff had received text messages from the company, telling them to go to work on their own. As a result, they were forced to use public transport and arrived late at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"This shows that there are neglected parts on the safety and security of these employees and the union is worried.

"MAS had spent millions on transport contracts to supply sufficient drivers, buses and vans for their staff to go to work but what is going on?

"We recall that those contracts had to supply 400 vans for pick-ups and send-offs for 3,500 crew members, and another 10 buses for shift staffs from Subang to KLIA."

Nufam claimed that even the buses had not been making the trips.

"We are not surprised that something had gone wrong in those contracts, and the management is very silent about it."

The union urged MAS's new owner, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, to investigate the transport contract and to terminate the contractor if the company was found to have violated the agreements stated in the deals.

"If the company have failed to honour the contract, why is MAS retaining its service, (even) after complaints by crew members and staff?"

Nufam said it had received similar complaints from female flight attendants of AirAsia and Malindo Air, who were scared of walking in open car parks while wearing their uniforms that "can be very striking at night and could also attract perpetrators".

The union urged the airlines to take the safety and security of their crew seriously.

"We need to do what we preach and be serious in safety and security matters. If airlines want to have female crew members, they must at least provide basic transport facility for them." – September 24, 2014, Malaysian Insider, Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nufam-accuses-mas-of-neglecting-crews-safety-and-security#sthash.M5hiNxsZ.dpuf

Anda boleh turut serta menyokong pekerja dapatkan Union yang diiktiraf

Ayuh, mari kita menunjukkan solidariti dengan menandatangani surat menuntut hak berkesatuan sekerja dihormati.. http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=5721&Language=EN

 

Malaysia: Allow union formation in Sabah Forest Industry

Sabah Forest Industry, SFI, owned and operated by Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), part of the gigantic Avantha Group is stepping up union busting tactics. The SFI has since 1998 refused to respect workers’ rights to form their union, affiliated to the Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU), by using legal and technical maneuverings including two Judicial Reviews to quash the decision of Malaysian Minister of Human Resource to recognize the union. This Indian conglomerate operates in 90 countries with over 25 thousand employees.

Once again, on 17 March 2014, the STIEU filed another claim for recognition. In vain. SFI refusal prompted the Department of Industrial Relations to initiate a secret ballot election. The Department ordered SFI to submit the list of employees to be screened as eligible voters.

SFI employees’ rights to form a union have been supressed long enough! ACT NOW to demand that SFI finally allows the conduct of free secret ballot elections; refrain from legal maneuverings in the inclusion and exclusion of eligible employees to vote; respect workers’ rights to form and join union of their choosing free from management interference and respect the results of legitimate elections.

Surat tuntutan kempen

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sukarti Wakiman
SFI Chairman
      
I am appalled to hear about Sabah Forest Industry’s (SFI)refusal to allow workers to exercise their right to form a trade union of their own choosing, free from management interference.

I am alarmed by the legal manoeuvrings and technical machinations used by SFI to suppress workers’ right to form an independent trade union.

I deplore SFI’s double standards on BILT industrial relations practice in contrast to its companies in India, which are unionised.

The right to form a union is fully guaranteed by ILO Convention 87 and is embedded as a mandatory requirement in Forest Certification Systems and the mandatory Labour Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation, which gives financial support to SFI.

I urge you to allow the conduct of free secret ballot elections; refrain from legal maneuverings in the inclusion and exclusion of eligible employees to vote; respect workers’ right to form and join union of their choosing free from management interference and respect the results of legitimate elections.


Sincerely,


CC: r. Gautham Thapar
BILT Chairman

Mr. Yogesh Agrawal
SFI Managing Director

Mr. Neehar Aggrawal
SFI Chief Operating Officer

Pekerja akan RUGI jika cadangan mengabungkan MBSB, CIMB dan RHB menjadi realiti?

KWSP merupakan duit pekerja seratus peratus - dan KWSP kini merupakan pemegang saham majoriti (lebih 64% saham)  MBSB(Malaysian Building Society Berhad)di mana pekerja ada satu institusi kewangan yang dapat membuat pinjaman perumahan dan sebagainya - justeru pekerja ada hak dan upaya juga untuk memastikan faedah pinjaman rendah dan wajar khususnya untuk pekerja penyumbang KWSP(khususnya pekerja swasta)dan juga mungkin untuk pekerja lain.

 EPF has a 64.73% stake in MBSB, and this means they control the decision making in MBSB - EPF beneficiaries, being private sector employees, must be most concerned about losing MBSB - housing and personal loans provider

Mungkin pekerja juga boleh memastikan bahawa MBSB akan memberikan kelonggaran kepada pekerja yang hilang pekerjaan - mungkin penangguhan bayaran bulan hutang rumah, dsb..mungkin juga pengaturan semula skim pembayaran balik - kurangkan bayaran pinjaman bulanan...

Kenapa boleh? Kerana semua wang KWSP adalah milik pekerja - bukan milik majikan atau kerajaan. Kini mereka yang mentadbir KWSP hanya diamanahkan buat terbaik demi pekerja ... Pekerja ada banyak kuasa dalam KWSP - tapi malangnya pergerakan pekerja, MTUC, kesatuan sekerja dan pekerja tidak mengunakan kuasa sedia ada ini...

Pekerja kena bantah 'merger' ini kerana pekerja atau KWSP akan kehilangan kuasa yang mereka ada kini di dalam MBSB - selepas merger yang dicadangkan, KWSP tidak lagi akan jadi pemegang saham lebih 50% saperti mana berlaku kini dengan KWSP.

Ini duit pekerja (14 juta pekerja dan bekas pekerja?) - apa akan pekerja lakukan? KWSP akan kehilangan pengaruh...

EPF’s CEO Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said on Monday: "All we ask is that the parties involved be aware that the EPF represents the interest of 14 million people and our right to vote is critical to protect their interests.” - Star, September 8, 2014, EPF’s right to vote in RHB Cap, CIMB, MBSB merger critical

 

Union raises stink over Malaysian banks merger, says workers not consulted

BY LEE SHI-IAN

Published: 20 September 2014

 

 

CIMB Group Holdings Berhad will join forces with RHB Capital and Malaysian Building Society Berhad in a proposed mega-merger. – Reuters pic, September 20, 2014. 

 

Malaysia's main bank workers union has criticised Putrajaya for failing to consult them over three financial institutions eyeing a merger or to ensure that their pension fund is being spent well in the process.

National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) secretary-general J. Solomon said the Ministry of Finance (MoF) appeared to be making all the decisions unilaterally in the proposed mega-merger of RHB Capital, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad and Malaysian Building Society Berhad (MBSB).

"It is very disappointing that MoF has not taken the initiative to consult the stakeholders, including NUBE, to ask for views or opinions regarding the merger," Solomon told The Malaysian Insider.
The proposed mega-merger has made headlines in business news pages as it could make the merged entity as the largest lender in Malaysia, surpassing Maybank Berhad. CIMB Group is the second-largest bank in Malaysia at present. Solomon said the workers of financial institutions were not trying to tell the management how to run the business, but their views should be taken into account.

He reminded Putrajaya that it had been part of a tripartite meeting with banks and workers in the early 2000s, where “all parties agreed that there would be consultations with the workers before any proposed merger of financial entities was approved".

Solomon also said the involvement of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in the merger raised questions and speculation.

"There is no transparency in how the workers' funds are being spent and this can lead to a lot of unnecessary speculation, which can affect morale."

He was referring to the controversy over the EPF's voting rights in the three-way merger following the leak of an unsigned letter on September 4, purportedly from unhappy board members of RHB.

The letter carried strong objections to permitting EPF to vote on the resolution to approve the proposed merger.

The letter also said that EPF, as the major shareholder and related party of RHB Capital, should abstain from voting on the merger, as the transaction involved the interest of EPF due to its large shareholding in CIMB.

"NUBE is concerned not only in the context that workers' representatives have not been consulted over the merger, but also how their funds are being invested," Solomon said.

He also expressed concern for customers as banks appeared to be charging fees for services which had previously been given free.

"Bank employees are also bank customers and they face being charged additional fees, like ordinary customers."

Solomon warned that Bank Negara had to regulate the banks and financial institutions to ensure that they were customer-friendly.

"Otherwise, we are looking at a possible scenario where banks will eventually only serve the rich and influential," he said.

"The poor will either stare at the banks whose services are beyond their reach, or else the poor men's money may be used to finance the rich."

Solomon said in the 1990s, there were financial institutions and banks operating in Malaysia, but the 1997 Asian financial crisis brought change.

"Putrajaya gave the excuse that banks needed to merge in order to be stronger, which would also benefit the rakyat," Solomon said.

"However, with the merger came the introduction of additional fees and charges," he said.

For instance, if a customer makes more than four withdrawals from the ATM in a month, charges are levied on subsequent withdrawals in that month.

"Banks have also introduced charges for over-the-counter cash transactions which do not exceed RM10,000," Solomon added.

"What is the point of the banks becoming globally strong while the masses in the country are suffering?" he asked. – September 20, 2014.

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/union-raises-stink-over-malaysian-banks-merger-says-workers-not-consulted#sthash.L2vwOwzo.dpuf

73 persen buruh kelihatannya mempunyai “sejumlah karakteristik“ kerja paksa

Kerja Paksa di Industri Elektronik Malaysia

Hampir sepertiga dari sekitar 350.000 pekerja industri elektronik Malaysia – yang merupakan rantai penting pemasok dunia – menjadi korban perbudakan modern berupa jeratan hutang, demikian kesimpulan sebuah penelitian. 

Penelitian yang dilakukan Verite, sebuah organisasi buruh internasional, menemukan bahwa penyalahgunaan hak-hak pekerja – khususnya puluhan ribu buruh dari negara-negara yang dibayar dengan upah rendah seperti Nepal, Myanmar dan Indonesia –merebak di sektor senilai 75 miliar US Dollar yang menjadi andalan ekonomi Malaysia.

Sejumlah perusahaan AS, Eropa, Jepang dan Korea Selatan beroperasi di Malaysia, termasuk Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Sony Corp, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, dan Bosch Ltd.

Sejumlah merek besar juga menggunakan jasa pemasok seperti Flextronics,

Venture Corporation, Jabil Circuit, dan JCY International untuk membuat komponen smartphone, computer dan printer.

Pendanaan dari pemerintah AS menambah kredibilitas laporan yang kelihatannya akan mengejutkan bagi banyak konsumen.

Malaysia adalah negara berpendapatan mendengah di mana standar upah dilihat sebagai lebih baik dibanding sejumlah negara tetangga Asia lainnya seperti Cina, di mana praktek-praktek ketenagakerjaan dipertanyakan dan menjadi sasaran pengawasan beberapa tahun terakhir.

Verite tidak menyebut satupun nama perusahaan dalam laporan, yang dikeluarkan hari Rabu, namun menyalahkan sistem dimana kebijakan pemerintah dan industri telah meningkatkan wewenang perusahaan perekrut buruh Malaysia dalam mengontrol upah serta syarat-syarat ketenagakerjaan lainnya.

“Hasil (penelitian) ini menunjukkan bahwa kerja paksa dalam industri elektronik Malaysia lebih dari sekedar hanya insiden terpisah, dan memang bisa dikategorikan secara luas,“ kata kelompok tersebut.

 

Terjerat hutang

Sejumlah perusahaan AS yang beroperasi di Malaysia mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak bisa memberikan komentar sampai mereka melihat secara utuh laporan tersebut. Juru bicara perusahaan Intel mengatakan hampir semua dari 8.200 pembuat chip mereka adalah warga Malaysia dan mereka tidak menggunakan kontraktor (perusahaan perekrut tenaga kerja). Flextronics mengaku sadar akan isu terkait buruh asing dan mereka menerapkan kebijakan ketat untuk mencegah pelanggaran.

Pejabat Malaysia tidak bisa segera memberikan komentar ketika diminta memberikan pernyataan atas temuan ini.

Studi ini muncul tiga bulan setelah status Malaysia diturunkan ke Tier 3 dalam laporan Perdagangan Tahunan Departemen Luar Negeri mengenai perdagangan manusia, yang dalam laporannya menyebut soal lemahnya kemajuan dalam perlindungan hak-hak sekitar empat juta pekerja asing.

Laporan yang didasarkan atas wawancara atas 501 buruh, menemukan bahwa 28 persen pekerja berada dalam situasi “kerja paksa”, di mana mereka bekerja secara terpaksa karena sejumlah faktor termasuk karena mempunyai hutang akibat membayar iuran terlalu mahal bagi perusahaan perekrut tenaga kerja.

Angka itu naik menjadi 32 persen bagi para buruh asing di sering disesatkan terkait gaji serta syarat ketenagakerjaan lainnya ketika mereka direkrut di negara asal, dan biasanya dikenakan biaya berlebihan yang membuat mereka terpaksa berhutang.

Verite mengatakan angka-angka itu didasarkan pada perhitungan konservatif. Mereka menemukan bahwa 73 persen buruh kelihatannya mempunyai “sejumlah karakteristik“ kerja paksa.

ab/hp (ap,rtr,afp)

Sumber: DW -  http://www.dw.de/kerja-paksa-di-industri-elektronik-malaysia/a-17927423