TNBJOU, MTUC, ITF and others express concern and demands PM's intervention in 6,000 MAS's employees possible loss of jobs?

Tenaga Nasional Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU), United Malaysia Labour Centre (UMLC), Public Services International, International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam), and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) had a press conference on 6,000 MAS's employees loss of job and they also apparently sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister (well, the Memo is still not on the MTUC website - so we have to just guess its contents - will try to post it when I get access to it)

MEDIA Coverage - well, an important issue about the potential loss of jobs for 6,000 and matters related to MAS - but alas, mainstream media seem to be not on the job telling all of us about this. Why? If MAS, the employer, issues a statement, more likely than not it will receive massive coverage. Malaysians deserve to know both sides...

Sadly, save for NUFAM, the other unions representing MAS employees was not there. Why? 

Earlier related posts:-

MAS Employees - Terminated, Termination Benefits, LIFO, Unions?

MTUC and 36 Groups concerned about all MAS employees loss of employment...

MAS Admin Bill - even all existing Unions in MAS are at risk?

All MAS employees set to lose their jobs when the MAS Admin Bill becomes law, and a new entity MAB takes over the national carrier?

MAS Bill - Hansard for 27/11/2014 not out - Senators may be forced to debate the Bill today without benefit of knowing what happened in Dewan Rakyat?

 

Unions call on PM to intervene in MAS' restructuring plan that will result in loss of 6,000 jobs

Posted on 23 March 2015 - 06:22pm
Last updated on 23 March 2015 - 06:52pm

Lee Choon Fai
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Employee unions have banded together to call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to intervene in Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) restructuring which will see 6,000 workers being retrenched.

International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam), and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) are among those who jointly sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office on the issue.

Other unions showing solidarity with MAS workers include Tenaga Nasional Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU), United Malaysia Labour Centre (UMLC), and Public Services International.

Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin demanded that Khazanah Nasional Berhad, which owns 70% of shares in MAS and is overseeing restructuring operations, consult MAS in-house unions and threatened to picket if this is not done before downsizing starts in June.

"We will object to any termination letters and will picket if they do not consult us about the restructuring exercise.

"We hope the Prime Minister will pay attention to the issues MAS workers are facing; we do not want to picket and oppose the government, we only want open and harmonious discussions," Ismail told a press conference at the Crystal Crown Hotel today.

He said MAS' financial predicament is due to mismanagement and leakages from the top, and it is the management that needs to be restructured.

As proof, Ismail said he has data and financial records which he will reveal "when the time is right", and that reports have already been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January and February.

Nufam secretary-general Mohd Akram Osman added that the average years of experience for MAS employees is 17 and those retrenched are unlikely to be able to work in other industries due to their training and age.

ITF Malaysia Chapter secretary-general Tan Sri Zainal Rampak said the restructuring has been taking too long and MAS' 20,000 employees have been left to wonder if they will be axed.

"Why is Khazanah not taking any proactive measures to solve the problems faced by these 6,000 employees?" Zainal asked.

MTUC secretary-general N. Gopal Krishnan said Khazanah is under the Finance Ministry of which Najib is the minister, thus he has to ensure that the job is done properly.

Gopal asserted that cutting MAS' workforce by 30% does not amount to restructuring the airline, noting that the carrier had been downsized to 18,000 employees in 2006, only to have 2,000 of them re-employed.

He added that changing one or two persons in the top management does not equal to a revamp, and more needs to be done to save MAS.

MAS lost RM1.17 billion in the 2013 fiscal year, and the MH370 and MH17 twin tragedies exacerbated its financial performance throughout 2014 as customers lost confidence in the airline and the safety of air travel. - The Sun Daily, 23/3/2015, Unions call on PM to intervene in MAS' restructuring plan that will result in loss of 6,000 jobs

UPDATED: Mar 23, 2015 02:44pm

Union wants PM to intervene in MAS’ retrenchment exercise

The Transport Workers Union secretary-general Tan Sri Zainal Rampak is wondering why Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the majority shareholder in MAS, has not consulted the unions. —TRP pic by Wan Kah Hoong

PETALING JAYA, March 23, 2015:

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to intervene in the plan by Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAS NewCo) to retrench 6,000 of its staff.

TWU secretary-general Tan Sri Zainal Rampak said Malaysia Airlines (MAS) had more than enough time to come up with a workable solution on what to do with the staff in its restructuring plan, but nothing had come up and the unions were still in the dark.

Zainal rapped Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the majority shareholder in MAS, for not consulting the unions which would have better ideas.

“Take the unions as your partner as MAS is funded by taxpayers.

“But Khazanah is not very serious even though it has appointed consultants to look into it.

“When you are serious, you must be very positive but there are no end to the discussions,” said the former Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) strongman at a press conference here today.

He said six trade unions will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office today to urge the government to intervene.

The six are Amalgamated Union of Employees in Government Clerical and Allied Services (AUEGCAS), Kesatuan Pencantuman Pekerja-pekerja TNB, Junior Officers Union Tenaga Nasional Berhad (JOUTNB), University of Malaya General Staff Union (UMGSU), Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) and Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU).

The memorandum, among others, demands a stop to the plan to retrench 6,000 MAS employees.

A discussion must be held as soon as possible involving the Human Resources Ministry, Khazanah and MAS with every legally recognised union in MAS.

The negotiation process on the restructuring of MAS must also be done in a transparent manner and in accordance with the Federal Constitution and labour laws.

Zainal declined to comment on the possibility of a strike if no progress was made as outlined in the memorandum.

MTUC secretary-general N. Gopal Krishnan said the Prime Minister had a moral obligation to find a solution for the workers, saying they had invested their life in MAS.

“Restructuring is not new but reducing the workforce is not restructuring.

“In the past, MAS had laid off some 3,000 staff but later on employed another 2,000.

“MTUC is strongly behind the workers. Since nothing is forthcoming from the management, we need the Prime Minister to act.” - The Rakyat Post, 23/3/2015, Union wants PM to intervene in MAS’ retrenchment exercise

Kesatuan desak pemimpin Khazanah letak jawatan

Sekumpulan kesatuan sekerja hari ini mendesak pemimpin atasan Khazanah Nasional Bhd meletak jawatan kerana didakwa gagal menyelesaikan masalah pemberhentian 6,000 kakitangan Syarikat Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS).

Khazanah adalah syarikat milik kerajaan yang menjadi pemegang saham terbesar dalam MAS.

"Pemimpin atasan Khazanah harus letak jawatan kerana gagal menyelesaikan masalah (pemberhentian) 6,000 pekerja MAS,” kata Pengerusi Persekutuan Pekerja Pengangkutan Antarabangsa (ITF) Malaysia, Tan Sri Zainal Rampak.

Bercakap dalam sidang media di Petaling Jaya hari ini, beliau berkata mereka akan menghantar memorandum kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak memohon campur tangannya untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu, petang ini.

Memorandum itu antara lain mendesak agar pemberhentian 6,000 pekerja dihentikan serta merta dan rundingan hala tuju MAS serta masa depan pekerja dibuat segera.

Jelasnya lagi, penstrukturan semula MAS harus dibuat dengan telus dan mematuhi Perlembagaan Negara serta undang-undang.

“Kami mahu menerangkan kepada PM, Khazanah tidak dapat menyelesaikan masalah MAS, kami mahu kerajaan dan PM campur tangan,” katanya.

Setiakawan pelbagai kesatuan sekerja

Pelbagai kesatuan sekerja lain hari ini turut hadir dalam sidang media itu hari ini bagi menyatakan setiakawan mereka dengan kakitangan MAS yang mungkin hilang mata pencarian mereka.

Kesatuan-kesatuan itu turut menandatangani memorandum kepada Najib. Mereka termasuk Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Rangkaian Kesatuan Sekerja Antarabangsa Malaysia (UNI-MLC) dan Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja dalam syarikat GLC dan Penswastaan (GLC).

Turut menyatakan sokongan termasuk Kesatuan Kebangsaan Anak-Anak Kapal Kabin Malaysia (Nufam), Kesatuan Pekerja Keretapi Tanah Melayu (RUM), ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council Malaysia (ASETUC) dan Public Services Internationa Malaysia (PSI).

Sementara itu, Senator Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud yang turut serta dalam sidang media itu berkata beliau sudah membangkitkan perkara itu dalam Dewan Negara tetapi jawapan menteri didakwa tidak meyakinkan.

“Sebelum ini saya sudah bangkitkan dalam dewan negara, tapi jawapan yang diberikan oleh menteri itu tidak meyakinkan,”kata Syed yang juga Setiausaha Eksekutif Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja-pekerja Perusahaan Alat-alat Pengangkutan dan Sekutu.

Tahun lalu, Khazanah mengumumkan pakej RM6 bilion untuk mengurangkan 30 peratus atau 6,000 pekerja sedia ada MAS bagi membolehkan syarikat tersebut kembali menjana keuntungan dalam tempoh tiga tahun, atau menjelang 2017.

Rancangan itu turut melibatkan penubuhan satu syarikat baru untuk mengambil alih aset dan perniagaan syarikat lama.- Malaysiakini (BM), 23/3/2015, Kesatuan desak pemimpin Khazanah letak jawatan