About 500 members of the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) protested at the premises of the Human Resources Ministry in Putrajaya today at what they perceived to be a union-busting exercise by the Malayan Commercial Banks Association (MCBA).

NUBE members from all over the country showed up to ask the ministry's assistance to resolve outstanding issues with their employers.

A memorandum signed by union representatives of 12 commercial banks was submitted to minister Dr Fong Chan Onn through the ministry's secretary-general Dr Syed Muhammad Syed Abdul Kadir.

Speaking to reporters later, the group's representative and NUBE member Othman Md Yusuff urged for the ministry's intervention.

One of the disputes is the ceased deduction of their union subscription and group insurance fees starting this month. The banks had claimed that this was to alleviate the confusion stemming from conflicting claims and instructions from the union.

Members in limbo

In a letter dated Oct 3, the MCBA informed members that "in view of the prevailing state of affairs in NUBE and the conflicting claims and instructions member banks receive from persons purporting to be officers of the union and the matters pending in the courts, we have to act prudently and will therefore cease making deductions for union subscription and Group Multiple Insurance Policy from October 2002 until further notice."

"The union members are now in a limbo due to this union-busting act by MCBA which is taking advantage of the (split) situation in NUBE," said Othman, who is attached to Citibank in Kuala Lumpur.

Othman said without the systematic monthly fees deduction, the union members are in danger of losing their representations and rights.

"Bank managements will take this opportunity to suppress its workers, such as what had happened to the staff of Public Bank recently," he explained.

Othman said that should the banks stop deduction for insurance, the workers would be without coverage when treatment is needed in case of illness.

The memorandum also urged the ministry to endorse the NUBE leadership under Abdul Jalil Abdul Hamid who was elected through a secret ballot on July 19 this year.

"The MCBA should not recognise any other individuals who were not elected on that day," he said.

Othman said the ministry's intervention to instruct MCBA to recognise the elected officers is important to ensure a good relationship between workers and employers in the banking sector.

Three-point memo

The three-point memorandum also stressed that the NUBE's registered office is on Jalan Ampang as confirmed by the director-general of trade unions Izhar Harun.

"Thus, no union members should be directed by any individual claiming to represent NUBE members and who operate from other addresses," said Othman.

He explained that another NUBE faction who were not "duly elected" office bearers had set up an office in Kompleks Wilayah Kuala Lumpur and had ordered members to pay subscription fees to them.

"We call on members not to pay any fees to them or they may lose their memberships as the fees are not paid to the registered union office," he said.

Othman alleged that commercial banks are planning to weaken the unions by taking advantage of the tussle in the NUBE leadership, unless the elected leaders are endorsed by the ministry.

NUBE hoped that the ministry could resolve the matter within a week failing which they would refer it to the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) for further action.