The National Union of Ban Employees (Nube), representing 30,000 employees in the financial services industry in Malaysia, is now locked in an industrial dispute with Citibank M Bhd.

Nube is incensed by the bank's anti-union activities which involve the outsourcing of job functions that threaten the livelihood of its members, the ousting of union representation of employees, the threatening and intimidating behaviour towards union members and its non-compliance with local labour legislation and the collective agreement.

Efforts made by Nube to redress the situation have failed and the bank's head of human resources walked out of a meeting at Citibank when he could not address the issues raised by Nube.

The head of HR, an expatriate, was obviously disregarding Malaysian laws, culture and customs and is oppressing the Malaysian workers at Citibank. It is incumbent on foreigners to learn and adapt to Malaysian ways and not disrespect Malaysian people and institutions.

The bank's intransigence is reflected in its refusal to address issues and they have been merely parroting bare denials to all issues raised. Nube has, therefore, no alternative but to pursue appropriate courses of action to remedy the situation.

Nube fears that a neo-colonisation agenda is being pursued by this foreign enterprise, and this is evident whenever Malaysian workers are exploited and local laws, customs and institutions disregarded.

The bank is attempting to delay meeting Nube again to resolve these issues and they are oblivious to the fact that the rights of workers and trade unions are inalienable rights and cannot be disregarded by any corporation however ‘large’ or ‘international’ they may be.

The writer is general secretary, Nube.