Saturday, October 4, 2014

MALAYSIA:::MTUC demands KTMB reinstate sacked unionists


The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) yesterday threw its support behind the sacked members of the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya.

Some 70 MTUC members, as well as 100 Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) workers, protested at the railway company's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur before submitting a memorandum demanding reinstatement for those who were fired.
 
To date, 56 members of the MTUC affiliate union have been disciplined for taking part in a picket on May 9. Of this, 40 were sacked while 16 others suspended for taking part in a protestagainst the company.
 
One of the sacked workers is union president Abdul Razak Md Hassan who, in May, led some 700 members in a picket against KTMB president Elias Kadir for alleged failures and shortcomings in running the company.
 
"Picketing is a legitimate activity of union workers. Sacking workers for it goes against the law. Terminating 40 workers is a cruel act and it destroyed their livelihood," Abdul Razak said.

Protest in Parliament

 
Meanwhile, MTUC secretary-general N Gopal Krishnan said if KTMB fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for the unprecedented termination, MTUC will take its protest to Parliament.
 
"And if it still cannot be resolved, we will go to the Prime Minister's Department because KTM is a government-linked company under the Finance Ministry and the prime minister is also the finance minister," he said.
 
Gopal said MTUC had written to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai asking for clarification but received no response.
 
At the protest, union members chanted slogans accompanied by the beating of drums, in solidarity with their sacked colleagues.

Their memorandum was addressed to KTMB chairperson Nawawi Ahmad, who is also BN's Langkawi member of parliament.

No comments:

Post a Comment