In a show of solidarity with suspended members of the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE), at least one union will withdraw its funds from the Bumiputera-Commerce Bank Berhad (BCB) by the end of the month.

In a letter dated Jan 28 to the bank, Universiti Malaya General Staff Union secretary general K Vinothan said the union has decided to close its current and fixed deposit accounts amounting to some RM200,000.

"On Jan 20, the working committee decided to close the accounts at the BCB branch on campus if the suspensions are not lifted," he said when contacted today.

"We hope the parties can resolve the matter through proper negotiations. We have given the bank one month to respond to our letter."

In addition to the two accounts, the union also has a scholarship fund at the bank.

Copies of the letter have been sent to members of the union's exco, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and NUBE.

Action by more unions

Vinothan said the union's decision was in support of the MTUC call to boycott the bank in a show of support for the 13 suspended NUBE members.

"The bank management has continuously refused to meet with the NUBE or the MTUC, so we thought that this would be one way of expressing disappointment over their conduct," he explained.

"We expect the BCB to show that some effort is being taken to reinstate those suspended."

Contacted today, BCB communications vice-president Joyce Ha said the managing director's office has no record of the letter.

"Since we have not received any letter from the union, we are unable to comment on the matter," she said.

MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran claimed that, over the last three weeks, six unions have notified the BCB of their intention to withdraw all their funds.

"But I know that they haven't (closed their accounts) yet because they are still waiting for the bank to respond. I don't think any have received a response," he said.

"If nothing happens, the MTUC will ask more unions to do the same. They only need to get their respective exco to approve the withdrawal of funds or closure of the accounts."

The NUBE's request to meet with the BCB management has not received any response to date despite regular pickets having been held last year.

Currently, the suspended union members are going through a domestic inquiry, with all having denied the charges of unlawful picketing in the bank's premises.

The NUBE itself has been dogged by infighting for more than two years now with two groups claiming legitimacy of leadership. As a result, several legal matters are pending decisions or trial.

Last week, NUBE members elected a caretaker committee to conduct fresh elections.