While the race for the Malaysian Trades Union Congress' (MTUC) top post shifts into high gear, Teams A and B led by president Zainal Rampak and secretary-general G Rajasekaran respectively have launched an offensive, zooming in on their differences on major labour issues.

Ironically, Transport Workers Union secretary-general Zainal and Metal Industry Employees Union executive secretary Rajasekaran were once 'sleeping partners' with a solid six-year partnership.

Both are seeking to retain their respective posts at the congress' triennial delegates conference, scheduled for March 5 and 6.

Some trades union observers say grassroots support currently favoured Zainal, who has been president for 17 years.

However, others beg to differ and feel it will be a close fight between Zainal and his challenger, the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers' executive secretary, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

This will be Syed Shahir's fourth attempt for the top post in the trades union umbrella body.

Syed Shahir, described as "a straightforward and nice" man, came close to dislodging Zainal in his first attempt in 1994 when he lost by a tissue-thin six votes. However, in his next two attempts in 1996 and 1999, he was soundly defeated by the long-time president by over 100 votes.

Internal friction

The outcome of this closely-watched MTUC elections may rest on a similar factional feud within the congress' second-largest affiliate.

In recent months, a clear split within the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) top leadership has emerged with Camp A led by president Johar Sulaiman and Camp B by general secretary J Solomon.

This has led to a bitter legal battle between the two leaders.

Of the 24 national NUBE executive committee members, 13 are the president's men while the rest are with Camp B, thus forcing all decisions to be put through a vote.

Some NUBE exco members are unhappy with the way all union matters are decided by a vote, which they claim is not the normal practice but is being taken advantage of by numerically-superior Camp A with Johar's full backing.

In fact, Johar's nomination to contest in the MTUC election for the position of vice-president private sector is questionable because several council members claim that it was not unanimous.

Same lawyer

"Many members are curious as to the link between Zainal and Johar, especially since both share the same lawyer, Kalai and Partners, and the choice for legal representation (for Johar) did not go through the exco.

"Furthermore, why is Zainal interfering in the NUBE's affairs? Members feel that he should stay out," said the official, adding that members were asking about his empty promise of reinstating the 15 HSBC staff who were sacked for adhering to union instructions.

The 29,000-strong NUBE will send 32 delegates to the MTUC conference.

It voting strength is second only to the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), which has 42 delegates representing almost one-third of the 800,000 civil servants. NUTP has pledged its support for Zainal.

The NUBE votes are expected to be divided in the middle between Johar's Camp A and Solomon's Camp B.

Sympathy votes

One council member, who conceded the split in votes, saw Zainal's call for a pact with Mohd Shafie BP Mammal as an act of desperation due to his loss of support, as well as a fishing expedition for sympathy votes among the grassroots already aligned to his deputy.

"Zainal, who through the MTUC is now on the forefront fighting against the gradual outsourcing of bank operations, was nowhere to be seen when Solomon was sacked by NUBE exco - by an 'unlawful' vote on no confidence - for upholding the same ground.

"Does Zainal's perceived shift smell of a political motive or is Solomon's stand right and stronger?" asked another council member.

As succinctly put by one observer, the NUBE is plagued by internal friction created by its "power-crazy majority in the national executive council", starting with Solomon's "unlawful" sacking.

The trial on whether to stay or strike out the ex-parte injunction which reinstated Solomon on Nov 19 last year will continue on March 5 and 6 - the two days when MTUC will meet to decide on its future leadership.

Funds mismanagement

That Johar-Solomon battle has set the stage for a series of decisions pushed by vote-taking at the NUBE national exco level, which include several alleged cases of funds mismanagement.

Irate members, supported by several council members, are on a campaign to overthrow the top leadership in the upcoming branch elections scheduled before April.

Another council member questioned Zainal's 'lack' of contribution in raising and addressing labour issues despite holding a "favoured position as Senator" in the Dewan Negara, the country's highest legislature.

"A lot of questions remain unanswered. Why should council members be pressured or expected to vote for the camp which is supported by their key leaders?

"Why isn't a council member, by virtue of his or her elected position, given the undisturbed and free power to make a decision and vote accordingly?" he asked, referring to the practice of block voting in MTUC polls.

As a parting shot, the council member said that unions are for those wishing to serve members and not for seeking quick personal gain. Otherwise, exit is the answer.