The general secretary of NUBE in taking umbrage of the human resources head of Citibank stated quote: ‘Nube is incensed by the bank's anti-union activities which involve the outsourcing of job functions that threaten the livelihood of its members, the ousting of union representation of employees, the threatening and intimidating behaviour towards union members and its non-compliance with local labour legislation and the collective agreement’ unquote.

Firstly, the general secretary should not mislead the public by making the head of HR an expatriate the villain central to the current dispute between the employer and the union in respect of the following:-

(a) There are a plethora of Industrial Court awards that have succinctly pronounced that ‘outsourcing of jobs’ is a function of the employer and therefore how does this become a matter of a trade dispute?;

(b) If jobs are outsourced in the name of efficiency and productivity and reducing costs to promote competitiveness, Nube must applaud and support such moves instead of clinging to the age old adage of ‘ousting union representation’ which stand is relevant for the 19th century;

(c) If there is in existence a collective agreement, how on earth can Citibbank be in non- compliance of the labour legisation including the collective agreement?;

(d) If employees who are members of the union have individual and/or collective grievances there are provisions in the collective agreement that such grievances can be escalated through the grievance machinery and eventually be referred to the Industrial Court by way of a trade dispute.

If there is a legitimate grievance, why has this route not been explored instead of thumbing the table and behaving like the uncultured and a bully?;

(e) It is rather damning and despicable of the union general-secretary to refer to the head of HR quote ‘an expatriate, was obviously disregarding Malaysian laws, culture and customs and is oppressing the Malaysian workers at Citibank.

‘It is incumbent on foreigners to learn and adapt to Malaysian ways and not disrespect Malaysian people and institutions’ and in that process insult all other expatriates in the country’.

Malaysian culture is never being judgmental on the culture practiced by others; and

(f) It is rather belligerent on the part of the general-secretary to go public on his dispute with Citibank showing the world how arrogant and non-compromising NUBE can get and disrupt industrial harmony.

Today the industrial relations system has been in vogue since 1967 for the promotion of industrial peace and to attract foreign investors in a global village with the cry for competitiveness so organizations can create wealth and reward its employees.

I would end this letter by stating that Nube has to grow up and take up issues with the banking group in a more civilized, cultured and intellectual manner without having to indulge its members in unnecessary picketing and work-to-rule.