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The delay of three years in the signing was due to an internal tussle for the
leadership of NUBE, touted to be the richest trade union in the country. The
squabble among its leaders came to an end through a court decision and the re-election
of the union’s top office bearers in August this year.
<p>With the signing of the long awaited CA, banking sector employees, mainly clerical,
non-clerical and special grade staff, were expected to get a windfall as they
would get the "whole package with 42 months in arrears, including a six
month bonus for the lapsed three years."</p>
<p>"The payout would amount to some RM200 million, where non-clerical staff
would get a 10 percent pay increase, clerical and special grade a nine percent
pay hike. It would be for three years and payment would be made within one month
of the signing," NUBE president Abdul Jalil Abdul Hamid told reporters
after the signing ceremony.</p>
<p>The 2003-2005 CA was signed by Abdul Jalil and NUBE general secretary J. Solomon
on the part of the trade union, while Hamidah Naziadin, president of MCBA, and
S. Sivagnanam, MCBA exco member, signed on behalf of the banks.</p>
<p>About 34,000 bank employees are expected to receive between RM4,000 and RM10,000
based on their grades. As for overtime and other allowances, the arrears would
be paid within 60 days from the CA signing.</p>
<p>Abdul Jalil said the two parties began negotiating for the CA only in August
2005 and all were concluded within "two official meetings".</p>
<p>"Negotiations should have started in 2003 but since we had a crisis in
NUBE, this was deferred. We started fresh negotiations in August and concluded
things within a month. The agreement we have reached is one of the best in the
banking industry. We have gone on a road show to explain it to our members and
it has been well received," he added.</p>
<p>He said the latest CA did not include a five-day week for bank employees as
this proposal had to be approved by relevant authorities like Bank Negara.</p>
<p>On the CA for next year, he said negotiations dates had yet to be fixed but
"a cooling off" period was expected before both parties sit down to
negotiate the next package.</p>
<p>Chairman of the Association of Banks Malaysia, Dr Rozali Mohd Ali, who was
also present at the signing ceremony said in his speech that the speed at which
the CA was reached reflected favourably on the parties concerned.</p>
<p>"If we have come a long way in the past, then we also have further to
go into the future. As always competitiveness is the keyword, for it will determine
our ability to continue to add value both as individual banks and collectively,
as the Malaysian banking industry.</p>
<p>"As the financial industry continues the process of liberalisation, competition
will inevitably get tougher and the banks’ margin will get thinner. I suggest
therefore that we consider very carefully our options for the future when we
move into the next round of negotiations," he added.</p>
<p>He said NUBE and MCBA should acknowledge the ever changing banking sector,
especially in terms of stiff competition domestically and from international
banks.</p>
<p>But both MCBA and NUBE should accept these challenges and embark on a serious
dialogue with a view to reaching an agreement that addresses the growing needs
of the employees while ensuring enhanced productivity. — BERNAMA
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com