About 22,000 bank employees will hold a nationwide picket on Nov 21 to protest against the withdrawal of subscriptions deduction facility, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) executive committee announced Friday.

MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran said the move was "a conspiracy between the Malaysian Commercial Banks Association (MCBA) and banks to destroy the NUBE (National Union of Bank Employees)".

"The concerted move several months before the impending negotiations with the NUBE on new terms and conditions is well-planned to deny 22,000 bank employees any wage increase," he said in a statement.

"The MTUC is determined to ensure that such dirty tactics do not pollute the entire industrial relations system and create widespread industrial unrest."