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The IRD advised the Zoo Negara and Aquarium Tunku Abdul Rahman Employees Union
against picketing to allow it to negotiate a settlement of their employment
grouses, including the collective agreement (CA), today.
<p>"IRD sought our co-operation against picketing at the zoo in view of our
meeting with them today," zoo union president Shukor Mohamed told The Malay
Mail yesterday.</p>
<p>"Subsequently, we consulted the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)
and decided to put the picketing action on hold.</p>
<p>"However, if the meeting ends in a deadlock we will continue picketing
during our lunch break on Sundays."</p>
<p>It was reported that since last month, zoo union members have been picketing
for an hour during lunch on weekends at the entrance to the zoo after their
management, the Malaysian Zoological Society, failed to comply with, among others,
their CA which expired two years ago.</p>
<p>The zoo union’s last picket action was on March 11 and 12.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the meeting today with the IRD officials in Putrajaya will be held
in two sessions, with the morning session to be attended by the management of
Zoo Negara – the Malaysian Zoological Council (MZS). Four zoo union members
and a MTUC official will meet the officials in the afternoon.</p>
<p>"We hope to find a solution to our grouses and agreement on the CA at
this meeting. We want this matter resolved without further delay," said
Shukor.</p>
<p>It was reported in The Malay Mail last week that the MZS had said that members
of the zoo union could not picket over matters involving the CA and housing
but MTUC supported the move.</p>
<p>On March 12, about 55 union members of the zoo picketed against MZS for an
hour from 1.05pm in front of Zoo Negara in Hulu Kelang. The members had been
picketing since last month.</p>
<p>They were demanding, among other things, to know the reason for the delay in
providing quarters for some 100 workers.</p>
<p>The union argued that the RM1.6 million allocation for the proposed quarters
by the Government in 2000 has yet to be utilised.</p>
<p>As for the three-year CA, which expires next year, the union sought a 10 per
cent increase in salary but was turned down by the MZS, citing losses.</p>
<p>The Malay Mail also reported that negotiations on the CA between the zoo’s
management and the union broke down. The matter has since been referred to the
Industrial Court on March 10.</p>
<p>The union claimed MZS was adopting a non-compromising stand, leaving them no
choice but to resolve it in a court of law.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com