How can you blame workers and trade unions for the failings of Malaysian Airlines?

That blame will fall on the MAS, in particular the Board of Directors who ultimately is also responsible for the appointment of the CEO(Chief Executive Officer) who carries out the instructions and directions of the Board of Directors. Who appoints the Board of Directors - well this will the shareholders, and given that our government is the biggest shareholder - the failings in MAS ultimately falls on this BN government.

MAS, unfortunately has of late had a bad reputation when it comes to respecting worker and trade union rights. See earlier posts:-

54 groups and unions:- Malaysian Airlines Must Respect Trade Union and Worker Rights Cease Anti-Union activities against NUFAM and its members

ITUC makes it 43 groups calling on MAS to revoke suspension on Union president

Malaysian Airlines(MAS), a GLC, suspends Union President for calling MAS CEO to resign?

Maseu calls for the resignation of MAS CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya

Tan Seng Giaw, how has the workers and the Union blocked efforts to turn around ailing MAS? What I see is that the Unions and workers have really been trying to make sure that MAS, their employer, survives. They have been even making suggestions as to what need to be done...

I wonder whether Tan Seng Giaw's comments is representative of the Pakatan Rakyat position, which to date have not really taken a clear position on worker and trade union rights..

MAS Unions blocking efforts to turn around ailing airline says MP

Unions in Malaysia Airlines have been criticized by one of the country's longest-serving members of parliament, who accused them of being stumbling blocks to turn around the ailing airline with their "unreasonable" demands and threats.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw (pic), the eight-term MP for Kepong, said the MAS “saga" had gone on for far too long – for more than 40 years.

"As the unions have been long established, they have been making incredible demands. If we have unions that don't understand the airline industry today, MAS cannot survive. If they make too many demands, how can MAS survive?" Dr Tan was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Dr Tan is the deputy chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). His target was MAS Employees Union of Peninsular Malaysia (Maseu), the largest union in MAS.

On May 16, Maseu urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to carry out a restructuring programme of the airline’s top management, just hours after Najib said that it might be too late to save the struggling national flag carrier.

Maseu threatened to strike if the airline did not remove the existing top management, whom it accused of being incompetent.

The union was also against plans to restructure MAS, including the sale of its engineering division and other non-core businesses.

MAS reported losses of RM443.4 million in the first quarter of the year, from a net loss of RM278.8 million in the same period last year. Losses in 2013 amounted to RM1.17 billion.

MAS said that the Q1 loss was due to missing flight MH370, where it saw high numbers of cancellations and a decline in long-haul travel after March 8 incident.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also said that Putrajaya would not rescue MAS following the airline’s dismal performance.

In 2011 and 2012, MAS's unions also protested against a merger between the airline and AirAsia, a deal which was welcomed by many quarters as a fresh start for MAS. The deal fell through in May 2012.

Dr Tan said the unions should take into account the airline's interests before making their demands.

"If the demands and threats undermine MAS, and if they result in the collapse of productivity, how could MAS perform? So I would say they are illogical and destructive to everyone, not only to MAS but Malaysia’s image as well.

“And this has been going on for too long and I think enough is enough," he was quoted as saying.

Dr Tan was also against any further bailout for MAS, saying that such a move would be detrimental to its efforts to move forward.

Khazanal Nasional had so far injected RM5 billion into the airline. – June 15, 2014. - Malaysian Insider, MAS Unions blocking efforts to turn around ailing airline says MP

CHARLES HECTOR

Friday, June 20, 2014

Anti-Union sentiments expressed by Tan Seng Giaw an indication that PR may also pro-employer?