Bank Dispute Referred To Court After Union Absence Says Dept

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The industrial relations department said no meetings were held between the commercial banks and the human resources minister regarding the dispute.PETALING JAYA: A dispute over the payment of festive aid by commercial banks and a deadlock over a collective agreement were referred to the Industrial Court after the banks complained of union actions and a failure to attend conciliation meetings, the industrial relations department said today.
The festive aid dispute was referred to the court by human resources minister Steven Sim on April 16, the statement said, according to Bernama.
A deadlock over the collective agreement caused by the union’s absence from conciliation meetings had also led to the minister referring the matter to the Industrial Court on April 29, the statement said.
It said the Malaysian Commercial Banks Association and the National Union of Bank Employees failed to reach an agreement on festive aid despite three conciliation meetings in February and March.
It said the banks had requested reference of the dispute to the Industrial Court, contending that the union had continued its protest and attacks through social media platforms despite payment of festive aid on April 2-3.
The department said it was informed by the association that festive aid payments of a month’s salary for non-executive employees and half-a-month’s salary for executive and special grade employees had been implemented on April 2-3.
Payments amounting to RM1,500 were also extended to bank officers under the Association of Bank Officers Peninsular Malaysia.
The association contended that the union’s actions had flouted agreed-upon procedures for negotiations relating to collective agreements, the department said.
It said no meetings or negotiations had been held by the human resources minister with the banks association regarding the festive aid or the collective agreement.
“This dispute is being managed professionally by the department in accordance with the legal provisions under the law,” the statement read. - FMT

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