Teachers Strike protesting longer working hours and against performance related pay rise scheme

When in Malaysia, it looks as if workers have been 'brainwashed' into believing that strike and industrial actions is not the 'correct' way forward in resolving worker-employer disputes... Workers in other countries continue to use strike action to effectively struggle for their rights but in Malaysia, we hardly remember when was the last worker strike...

The laws have been amended/enacted to really make it very very difficult for Malaysian workers/unions to strike - in fact, Malaysia wants workers and unions to just lodge complaints with the government ... 

So, even when Union leaders are 'wrongfully terminated', we do not even see much protest from fellow workers at the same workplace....Employers can continue to violate worker rights....and workers just lodge complaints with the government... 

This system works very well for employers ... no risk of disruption of profits... no risk of even 'bad publicity'....for after all, the lodge the complaint - try to resolve the situation amicably ... if cannot refer to court is all a rather  'secret' process which media is also not interested to cover... and it takes a long time.... and people forget the victims and the violations... the injustice and violation of rights just get swept under the carpet...

After a while, it becomes the norm....and maybe today Malaysian Unions and workers have really forgotten how to strike.... Historically, strike has been the most effective weapon of workers and trade unions to get better rights and working conditions...

National teachers' strike: Schools shut across Wales

NUT Cymru says teachers are being asked to work longer and pay more into their pensions

Continue reading the main story

 

Almost half of schools in Wales have been closed or partially shut after teachers went on strike for the day.

Teachers in the NUT union in Wales and England were protesting against the UK government's changes to pay and pension terms.

Despite the Welsh government having power over education in Wales, pay is controlled by the UK government.

The UK government criticised the strike, saying it caused disruption for children and parents.

More than 13,000 teachers from hundreds of schools across Wales took part in the action.

Some 500 Welsh schools were partially closed and more than 300 completely shut.

While some schools were forced to close completely, most secondary schools were open for pupils studying for their GCSEs and A-levels.

The strike was called after a row over a new performance-related pay structure and tougher pension package planned by the UK government.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has said that introducing performance related pay would be a way of raising teaching standards.

The idea is designed to bring automatic pay rises to an end, with schools given the flexibility to offer higher salaries to their best teachers.

But the fear is, with budgets so tight, it would be difficult to reward the best teachers without penalising those who are struggling.

An NUT Cymru rally outside the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday morning attracted up to 300 people.

The union's Wales secretary David Evans, speaking from the rally, told the BBC: "Teachers are being asked to pay more into their pensions and are being asked to work longer.

"So it's pay more, work longer, receive less."

David Evans, NUT Cymru secretary, says parents understand it is a "fight for education"

Earlier, he had said that nobody could accuse the union of taking strike action lightly, adding previous planned action had been called off twice.

"Unfortunately teachers across Wales really do feel as if they are left with little alternative," he said.

"In many cases they are not simply fighting for a fair deal for teachers, opposing the unfair pay and pension's raids they have faced, but are standing up for the very nature of education services on offer in our communities. 

"No teacher wants to strike. 

"The individuals doing so will be sacrificing a day's pay, but it is a decision based on securing the long-term sustainability of public education in Wales and the UK." 

Teachers were taking part in a rally outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

The other big teaching union, the NASUWT, has walked out alongside the NUT in the last two national strikes but did not strike on Wednesday.

The UK government said the strike action was damaging children's education and was unpopular with parents.

A spokesperson for the UK government's Department of Education said: "Parents will struggle to understand why the NUT is pressing ahead with strikes over the government's measures to let heads pay good teachers more. 

"They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and talks have been taking place weekly. - BBC News, 26/3/2014, National teachers' strike: Schools shut across Wales

Air Asia, revoke the suspension of the pilot - everyone has a right to comment on MH370

Workers are not slaves or akin to slaves. When they enter into an employment relationship, they only agree to do the work they are employed for. They do not surrender their human rights and other freedoms. Workers have every right to their freedoms and human rights. And, mind you this includes the right to highlight the wrongdoings and violation of rights of even their employer.

Employers do not control the mind and actions of workers. As workers, they have every right to fight against the violation of rights of fellow workers, and all other workers. They have a right to lobby for better worker rights, join any political party, etc... They have the right to comment about things happening outside their employment duties.

It is shocking that Air Asia X even issued such a directive that its employees are not to comment on MH370. This is unacceptable. As it is the Malaysian government has already limited a lot of our freedoms and rights, and now private corporations are also trying to 'control' their workers in matters not directly linked to the work they are employed to do. 

This is not the first time, this has been highlighted in Malaysia. After the last General Elections, a government-link company also terminated 18 workers because they, during the election period, handed in a memorandum to contesting candidates to get their commitment to worker and trade union rights. Of course, workers would only want to support people who support worker and trade union rights, and the advancement of these rights. Corporations have their monies and 'goodies', but all a worker has when it comes to government is his/her vote. See earlier post:- Now 51 groups call on DRB HICOM TO RESPECT THE CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN MALAYSIA

Air Asia X must immediately revoke the suspension of the said pilot (see Malaysiakini report below), and never again try to hinder or deny  the rights and freedoms of any other employees.

Are Malaysians expected to silently not comment or share their views. 

Air Asia X apparently wants this - their workers are expected not to say anything about MH370? What about expressing hope and support to the victims? What about extending their prayers? Air Asia X expects its employees to be seen as cold and unconcerned about MH370

AirAsia suspends pilot for questioning Malaysia authorities over MH370

 

Travellers walking past the AirAsia service counter at Changi Airport Terminal 1. An AirAsia X senior first officer has been suspended from duty for suggesting in a Facebook message that the Malaysian authorities had withheld information pertaining to the search for flight MH370, Malaysiakini reported. -- ST FILE PHOTO:  JAMIE KOH

KUALA LUMPUR - An AirAsia X senior first officer has been suspended from duty for suggesting in a Facebook message that the Malaysian authorities had withheld information pertaining to the search for flight MH370, Malaysiakini reported.

AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes confirmed the suspension on Tuesday night.

"AirAsia X senior first officer has been suspended pending investigation as company policies were broken in Facebook posting," Mr Fernandes wrote on Twitter.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Rani Osman added that the first officer failed to observe a "specific directive" to avoid making public comments on the ongoing search for MH370's wreckage in the southern Indian Ocean.

AirAsia X is the long-haul arm of Malaysia's profitable low-cost carrier AirAsia.

The pilot, whose identity was withheld, criticised the Malaysian government in a Facebook post for attempting to bring premature closure to the crisis.

"Is there any concrete proof that MH370 has indeed crashed?! It's not right to simply assume when you have no evidence to back up your claims!

"(The) supposed debris... isn't even confirmed to be from the plane yet! Show us the proof then tell us MH370 has crashed.

"Till then, stop hiding facts! It's obvious to even a blind man that there (are) tons of info the government definitely knows and isn't sharing yet!" the pilot wrote.- Straits Times, 26/3/2014, AirAsia suspends pilot for questioning Malaysia authorities over MH370

AirAsia X suspends pilot over MH370 remarks

 

MH370 AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of budget carrier AirAsia, has suspended a pilot for comments he made online on the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, pending a domestic inquiry.

"AirAsia X senior first officer has been suspended pending investigation as company policies were broken in Facebook posting," group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said in a tweet last night.

Air Asia X chief executive officer Azran Rani Osman added that the first officer contravened a "specific directive" not to publicly comment on the ongoing search.

"(There is a) specific directive to our crew on public comments on MH370. (There is a) duty of care not to be hurtful," he wrote in response to Fernandes' tweet.

When contacted, Air Asia X said that it would not be releasing any further details on the matter.

The AirAsia top guns' comments come as several blogs circulated a picture of an AirAsia X pilot's Facebook post where he criticised the government for declaring that MH370 fell into the Indian Ocean.

"For f**k's sake lah... Is there any concrete proof that MH370 has indeed crashed?! It's not right to simply assume when you have no evidence to back up your claims!

"(The) supposed debris... isn't even confirmed to be from the plane yet! Show us the proof then tell us MH370 has crashed.

"Till then, stop hiding facts! It's obvious to even a blind man that there (are) tons of info the government definitely knows and isn't sharing yet!" the posting reads.

The pilot, whose identity is being withheld by Malaysiakini pending his comments, has disabled his Facebook account. It earlier showed that he is a senior first officer at AirAsia.

His other social media accounts show him in a pilot's uniform and features a video about his love for flying, which also includes various shots of AirAsia planes.

On Monday night, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that MH370 "ended" in the Indian Ocean, far from any possible landing strips, based on calculations using satellite data.

MAS chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said that MAS concludes that there are no survivors as it the area it likely fell is thousands of nautical miles from any land mass and is one of the roughest seas in the world.

"It has been 17-18 days," he told reporters despondently.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane at 1.30am on March 8. Satellite data shows that the last "ping" from the air craft was eight hours later, putting it at the southern Indian Ocean.

It had enough fuel to fly for eight hours, and had departed from KLIA at 12.41am.

No debris has been found. - Malaysiakini, 26/3/2014, AirAsia X suspends pilot over MH370 remarks

 

MH370 Briefings - Punctuality at media briefings is a mark of respect and efficiency?

5.30pm - that is the scheduled time for the Daily Media briefings, but of late we see that the Acting Minister of Transport and his team are not punctual - To me, this is a sign of disrespect ....and it reflects badly on the perception of Malaysia. It is a sign of inefficiency? We may accept lateness once in a while - but then one should rightly apologize and explain the lateness.

Everyone is waiting - not just the media but also Malaysians and a lot of people all over the world, and our Acting Minister is late.

Like in Malaysian parliament at times, a question asked is sometime totally ignored and left unanswered. If you do not want to answer, just say that you will not be answering the question - good to also give a reason why no answers.

LANGUAGE - well, the answers are given in Bahasa Malaysia when the question is in Malay from our local journalist....and this is odd because this is not a media conference for just Malaysian media...but for the international media. So, it is not uncommon for a foreign journalist to ask again the same question whose answer was previously given in Malay... this is inefficient - better for the answers to be all in English, or if the answer is in Malay then immediately also follow up with an explanation and answer in English. I am sure that all Malaysia's journalist are fluent in English as well - and noting that many media carry these Media Briefings live ...BBC, Sky Net, etc... 

MEDIA - I am also rather disappointed by some of the questions asked by the media. It is almost as if they were not listening to the statement and the earlier question and answers. It looks that they have come with 'pre-prepared' questions and ask it again despite the fact that the answers have been given. Today, one journalist even directed one question to the MAS CEO, who obviously was not even present. 

Since it all started, there was much blame put on 'social media' for speculations, etc - but really, it was really mainstream media, and the various people that they interviewed and talked to that were speculating...or rather telling us what they think had happened, etc... Finally, the biggest mistake was made by Prime Minister Najib at 10pm one day when suddenly he told people that the plane had gone down in the sea....and from that hope was crushed - now, this was wrong as there is still to date no actual evidence to show that MH370 went down and all lives were lost ....I still have hope. Whether it went down or crashed in the sea near Australia, I still want to see some proof - that some part of MH370. Whether all lives were lost, well I still have hope...

MAS - a disturbing record on worker and trade union rights...?

Malaysian Airlines(MAS),a government-linked company, has a disturbing track record when it comes to worker and trade unions.

Whilst. we all are concerned with missing MH370, it is time to also challenge MAS to improve itself, also with regard to respecting worker and trade union rights.

MAS, even after the secret ballot proving that flight attendants in MAS agree that NUFAM is their chosen union - MAS is now challenging the 'secret ballot' and the recognition in the High Court. Respect the rights of your flight attendants, and accept that NUFAM is the recognized Union and proceed with the process of entering into a Collective Bargaining agreement.

The President of NUFAM, when he makes a statement in his capacity of the President, has been terminated by MAS.

Now, 3 - 4 others from the Union has been terminated...

When members take their grievances to the Ministry of Human Resources, MAS reacts with show cause letters.

 

On 3/12/2013, 43 groups including the ITUC came out with a Joint Statement, "MAS Must Immediately Revoke Suspension of Union President Ismail Nasaruddin -Worker Right Issue Should Be Resolved By Negotiations Not ‘Union Busting’ (see below for the statement)

On 3/3/2014, 54 groups issued another Joint Statement, ' Malaysian Airlines Must Respect Trade Union and Worker Rights - Cease Anti-Union activities against NUFAM and its members (see below for the statement)

Joint Statement – 3/12/2013

MAS Must Immediately Revoke Suspension of Union President Ismail Nasaruddin

Worker Right Issue Should Be Resolved By Negotiations Not ‘Union Busting’

We, the 43 undersigned civil society groups, trade unions and organizations are disturbed by the news that Malaysian Airlines, a government linked company, has suspended the president of the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM), Ismail Nasaruddin in connection with a statements made to the media by the Union, which amongst others suggested that MAS’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO),  Ahmad Jauhari Yahya who was appointed in 2011, should resign. Ismail was allegedly suspended without allowances with immediate effect starting Nov 8 following a news report quoting him that was published on the same day.

According to a news report, ‘…NUFAM Secretariat said it is calling on the prime minister to review Jauhari's contract and remove him as the CEO of MAS, which is a government appointed position, unhappy that there has been no changes in resolving the cabin crew's problems…’ (The Sun Daily, 8/11/2013, NUFAM calls for resignation of MAS' CEO).

Amongst the alleged grievances being raised by NUFAM, which represents 3,500 cabin crew at Malaysia Airlines (MAS), as was contained in the said Sun Daily report are:-

·         New policy imposed by MAS on a weight control ruling where cabin crew are told to reduce their weight to achieve a certain body mass index within three to six months. Failure to do so would result in an automatic transfer to ground work. The new rule is also a blanket policy and affects all cabin crew members including those who have just returned from maternity leave and may find it difficult to drastically lose weight within a short time frame;

·        Cabin crew who joined in 2004 or later are no longer able to enjoy the transport services provided by the airline for pick-up from home, and  Ismail said this is unfair to those who joined in 2004 or later, as they had signed contracts that included transportation as part of the benefits; and

·         That the MAS management have allegedly cut costs drastically which affected the cabin crew resulting also a failure to review allowances and salaries.

We are especially concerned with this ‘weight control ruling’ which certainly is discriminatory against women, especially to those returning from pregnancy. Increase of body mass index sometimes may be beyond the control of a human being, and this really should not be used to affect their employment.

NUFAM alleges that it wants MAS to sit down with the Union to discuss and negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA/CA) but apparently MAS is not interested to do so at this moment, citing as reason some judicial review.

Now, MAS has commenced disciplinary actions against Ismail Nasaruddin, and according to a Malaysiakini report, it is allegedly because MAS said Ismail had acted in contradiction with his duties as a chief steward of the airline by issuing the statement. (Malaysiakini, 14/11/2011, MAS suspends chief steward for criticising CEO)

Now, clearly the statements were made by Ismail in his capacity as President of the Union, representing some 3,500 workers, and as such he has the duty and obligation to fight for the rights of workers and that includes applying pressure on the employer and even calling for the removal of any of such employer’s officers or even Directors who is standing in the way of a prompt resolution of the dispute. Unlike employers, every day that a worker’s issues is not resolved, it is the workers that will continue to suffer. A prompt resolution is best and just.

No worker, group of workers or unions should be barred from making public statements to the media or otherwise in the struggle for worker rights and human rights. This right is clearly acknowledged in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known today as the UN Human Rights Defender Declaration.

We condemn the action of Malaysian Airlines (MAS) in commencing disciplinary actions against a Union leader, and urge MAS to immediately stop this and revoke the suspension of Ismail Nasaruddin.

We call on MAS to immediately sit down, negotiate and resolve these outstanding worker issues with the trade union rather than resorting to ‘union busting’ strategies which include disciplinary actions against  worker and union leaders who dare to fight for worker rights.

We call on the Malaysian government to immediately to act, given the fact of the much influence it has in a government-linked company like MAS, to ensure that justice is done for Ismail Nasaruddin, the Union and its members.

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud

Charles Hector

Mohd Roszeli bin Majid

Pranom Somwong

For and on behalf of the following 43 civil society groups, trade unions and organizations

ALIRAN

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)

Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)

Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

CWI Malaysia (Committee For A Workers International  Malaysia)

Damn the Dams

Dignity International-Asia

Friends of Burma

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, United Kingdom

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas(JERIT)

Kesatuan Eksekutif AIROD (KEA)

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysians for Beng Hock

Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

MTUC Pahang

National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers (NUHBRW)

Network of Action For Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Paper and Paper Products Manufacturing Employees Union (PPPMEU)

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)  

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines) 

Pax Romana-ICMICA Asia

Peoples' Green Coalition

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor

Pusat KOMAS

Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee

Sarawak Dayak Iban Association[SADIA]

SUARAM

Tenaga Nasional Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU)

Tenaganita

The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec

WIRDA (Women’s Institute Research Development and Advancement), Malaysia

Women’s Centre for Change Penang

Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA – Batam, Indonesia

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

Law and Society Trust.Colombo Sri Lanka

ITUC(International Trade Union Confederation)

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud - Senator in the Malaysian Parliament

Charles Hector - Human Rights Defender and lawyer;

Mohd Roszeli bin Majid Vice President (Private Sector) Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and also the President of the TNB Junior Officers Union;

Pranom Somwong - Workers Hub For Change (WH4C), Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD); 

Joint Statement – 3/3/2014

Malaysian Airlines Must Respect Trade Union and Worker Rights

Cease Anti-Union activities against NUFAM and its members

We, the 54 undersigned civil society groups, trade unions and organizations are disturbed by the news that Malaysian Airlines(MAS), a government linked company continues to violate worker and trade union rights. Recently, MAS commenced disciplinary action against Mohd Akram bin Osman, the Secretary General of the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM), and 30 other NUFAM members. The show cause letter dated on or about 14/2/2014 asked why disciplinary action should not be taken against them by reason of their participation in an ‘illegal’ gathering on 27/11/2013 at the Ministry of Human Resources in Putrajaya. 

On 17/2/2014, Mohd Akram received yet another show cause letter with new allegation, and he has been suspended with half pay. 

The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM) is a registered trade union, and it had sought recognition from Malaysian Airlines, the employer of some of its members. Recognition is a legal requirement in Malaysia before an employer can be compelled to sit down, negotiate and agree to a Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA). When MAS rejected the application, the Director General of Industrial Relations(DGIR) conducted a secret ballot which involved all qualified employees, and NUFAM succeeded in getting 62.73% of the votes, and thereafter on August 2013, the DGIR issued the formal letter acknowledging NUFAM as a recognized union. It must be noted that in Malaysian law, MAS, as employer, would have had to agree on the list of qualified employees entitled to vote before the secret ballot, and as such challenging the result and the subsequent recognition of the Union is bad.

Sadly, on 4/10/2013, MAS challenged the decision of the Minister to accord recognition to NUFAM, and filed a Judicial Review application in the High Court. MAS also allegedly applied for an interim stay order thus depriving NUFAM the ability to move forward towards a Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA).

On 29/11/2013 MAS wrongly terminated Ismail Nasaruddin, the President of NUFAM, without even having a Domestic Inquiry, hence denying him the right to be heard and a fair hearing. Ismail was first suspended and then terminated allegedly by reason of a statement he issued in his capacity as President of NUFAM, which appeared in the media, which amongst others stated :- ‘…NUFAM Secretariat said it is calling on the prime minister to review Jauhari's contract and remove him as the CEO of MAS, which is a government appointed position, unhappy that there has been no changes in resolving the cabin crew's problems…’ It also raised other worker issues (The Sun Daily, 8/11/2013, NUFAM calls for resignation of MAS' CEO).

MAS send him a show cause letter on 8/11/2013, which also immediately suspended him. Thereafter, Ismail received another letter terminating him on 29/11/2013. According to a Malaysiakini report, it is alleged that MAS said Ismail had acted in contradiction with his duties as a chief steward of the airline by issuing the statement.(Malaysiakini, 14/11/2011, MAS suspends chief steward for criticising CEO). This is absurd as the statement was issued in the capacity of a Union President, not a mere employee whereby even an ordinary employee should never be denied his freedom of opinion or expression.

In response, 43 civil society groups and trade unions, including the International Trade Union Confederation(ITUC), issued a Joint Statement on 3/12/2013, entitled, “MAS Must Immediately Revoke Suspension of Union President Ismail Nasaruddin Worker Right Issue Should Be Resolved By Negotiations Not ‘Union Busting’. 

Then, in December 2013, disciplinary action was taken by MAS against about 10 NUFAM members allegedly based on comments made by them in their NUFAM Facebook Group. They were all suspended, but thankfully the disciplinary action seem to have been discontinued against 9. However, one Flight Attendant Ms Farahtina Kassim is still suspended from her flying duties since 8th December 2013 and even though she is now receiving full wages, she is being deprived of her flying allowance which constitutes a substantial sum of her ordinary take-home income. 

Now in February 2014, the show cause letter is against some 30 employees. The most recent allegation of participation in an ‘illegal gathering’ at the Human Resource Ministry is absurd given the reason that it a fundamental right for workers and/or their unions to file complaints and make representation to the government, including the Human Resource Minister. There has also been no known report or actions taken by the police or relevant authorities that indicated that any ‘illegal gathering’ even took place on 27/11/2013 at the Ministry. In any event, even if workers went to the Ministry not during their working hours, MAS certainly cannot make this a worker misconduct. Being convicted of serious crimes may be a basis for commencement of misconduct, but here there seem to have been no arrest, investigation or even prosecution at all. One also wonders whether there is ‘mala fide’ on the part of MAS to suddenly in February 2014 to issue show cause letter with regard to things that happened in November last year.

On or about 14 February 2014, Ms Farahtina Kassim and 3 others were terminated.

It is suspected that the timing of these recent actions by MAS may have been because the MAS’s judicial review at the High Court challenging of the recognition accorded Minister to NUFAM was fixed for 18/2/2014, which now has been adjourned to 27/3/2014. 

Taking into consideration all these actions of MAS, it is difficult not to come to the perception that MAS is on a ‘union-busting’ mission, which also includes persecution of Union leadership and those active in NUFAM.

Malaysia, being a member of the international community, must also act in accordance with International Standards including Ruggie’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework , whereby in cases of government-linked companies like MAS, the obligation is even greater. The Guiding Principles do state that “States should take additional steps to protect against human rights abuses by business enterprises that are owned or controlled by the State, or that receive substantial support and services from State...”. 

No worker, group of workers or unions should be barred from making public statements to the media or otherwise in the struggle for worker rights and human rights. This right is clearly acknowledged in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known today as the UN Human Rights Defender Declaration.

We call on Malaysian Airlines to immediately cease all ‘union busting’ activities including the commencement and continuation of disciplinary actions against members and potential members of NUFAM.

We call on MAS to immediately discontinue the High Court action challenging the recognition of NUFAM, and to immediately sit down and work towards a Collective Bargaining Agreement with NUFAM.

We call again on MAS to immediately and unconditionally reinstate Ismail Nasaruddin, the president of the Union, Ms Farahtina Kassim and the 3 other flight attendants that have been terminated.

We call on MAS to recognize and respect worker rights including the freedom of association and the right of qualified employees to join the Union.

We call on the Malaysian government, being also a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and also having substantial influence in MAS, a government linked company, to ensure that worker rights and union rights are respected by MAS.

We call on Malaysia to immediately amend or repeal all laws that hinder or delay the speedy formation of trade unions and entry into Collective Bargaining Agreement with employers. 

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud

Charles Hector

Mohd Roszeli bin Majid

Pranom Somwong

For and on behalf the 54 organisations listed below

ALIRAN

All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions

AMRC, Hong Kong.

Cambodian Human Rights and Development Organization- ADHOC

Centro De Reflexión Y Acción Laboral (CEREAL)

COAC (Center for Orang Asli Concerns), Malaysia

Committee for Asian Women, Bangkok

Community Action Network(CAN), Malaysia

CWI (Committe For Workers International) Malaysia

Damn the Dams

Dignity International

FARR(Friends' Association for Rural Reconstruction) Orissa, India

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com , UK

Kesatuan Eksekutif AIROD

Kesatuan Eksekutif Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perodua

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Perubatan Dan Kesihatan Swasta

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific(KPPAP), Malaysia

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysians for Beng Hock

Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility MPSR

Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)  Pahang

Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)  Perak

Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)  Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan

MHS Employees Union, Malaysia

Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)

Migrante International

National Union Employees in Companies Manufacturing Rubber Products(NUECMRP)

National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers (NUHBRW), Malaysia

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Paper Products Manufacturing Employees’ Union of Malaysia (PPMEU)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Parti Sosialis Malaysia(PSM)

Pax Romana ICMICA

Peoples Green Coalition

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Malaysia

Pusat KOMAS

Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee, Malaysia

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM )

Selangor & Federal Territory Textile Workers Union

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

Tenaga Nasional Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU)

Thai Labour Campaign, Thailand

THINK Centre, Singapore

WAC, Cavite, Philippines

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

Women Workers Lead, Malaysia

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA – Batam

Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD)

Club Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud - Senator in the Malaysian Parliament

Charles Hector - Human Rights Defender and lawyer;

Mohd Roszeli bin Majid Vice President (Private Sector) Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and also the President of the TNB Junior Officers Union;

Pranom Somwong - Workers Hub For Change (WH4C), Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD);