The National Union of Bank Employees had expressed scepticism over the government's bid to help avert a Jan 3 strike in all the 26 branches of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Nube secretary-general G. Gopala Krishnan told malaysiakini that the labour law may limit the ability of the government in stitching a deal between the two parties.

Nevertheless, he welcomed the intervention from newly appointed Minister of Human Resources Fong Chan Onn, who met with the union yesterday in an attempt to resolve the ongoing dispute between the British-owned bank and the union over the sacking of 15 employees. Gopala added that Fong had a meeting with the HSBC management today.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Trades Unions Congress President Zainal Rampak had criticised the government for not acting quickly enough. "The new minister is not showing enough support," he said.

The 1,600-strong HSBC members of Nube have been protesting against the bank's dismissal of 15 customer service representatives on Oct 7 for their refusal to deliver platinum credit cards to customers' offices and residences.

The union claimed that this particular delivery duty was not part of their job functions, and that the employees were dismissed amid negotiations to resolve the matter between Nube and the bank.

HSBC has insisted that the dispute be resolved by the Industrial Court. However, Nube has opposed the move.

"We will not go to court because it will take an average of at least three and a half years before the case is heard," Gopala said.

In a recent development, the bank had offered to dole out RM10,000 each to the 15 sacked employees, in addition to 1.75 month's salary as cash payments for compensation.

This, acccording to Gopala, is not enough. "We want the reinstatement of the 15."

Meanwhile, HSBC human resource senior manager David Riley was tight-lipped on the issue when contacted by malaysiakini this afternoon. "I am sorry, I have nothing to say," he said.

Gopala said that both parties in the dispute were racing against time to forestall the strike. However, he expressed doubt on whether an amicable solution could be reached by the year's end.

The Jan 3 strike would the first strike in Nube's history.