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Cuepacs president Omar Osman assured the crowd of about 200 members, including
teachers, nurses and police personnel, that there was no bad blood between both
organisations.
<p>"The leadership has no problem with MTUC. That will trickle down to the
members to be co-operative with their brothers in that organisation," he
said after the opening of its new hall in Jalan Gajah, Pudu.</p>
<p>MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said: "Let there be no separation
between Cuepacs and MTUC. Workers are still workers."</p>
<p>Omar responded in kind and said he would also attend MTUC’s celebration
at Dataran Merdeka. His comments were greeted by thunderous applause.<br>
He said he would be sending a contingent of 3,000 Cuepacs members from all over
the country for the Workers Day national gathering in Putrajaya, which Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will launch on May 21.</p>
<p>"Maybe, he will then announce the outcome of our request for a salary
revision."</p>
<p>It was previously reported that yesterday was the deadline.</p>
<p>Omar was positive that the prime minister would have good news for them despite
rumours on the Internet and through SMS that Abdullah had already decided on
a 10 per cent salary adjustment.</p>
<p>"If that is the case, then we will reject it. They can’t continue
giving the excuse that the economy is bad. The economy is good now."</p>
<p>When asked if they would resort to a strike if the decision was not favourable,
he said: "We will have to discuss with the congress. But for now, we have
not reached that stage".</p>
<p>Cuepacs met the prime minister on March 6 and presented a six-point memorandum
that included a new salary scale, raising the retirement age to 60, the drawbacks
of the proposed contributory pension scheme and abolishing the efficiency-level
examinations.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070502082836/Article/index_html</i>
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