A picket by some 200 disgruntled bank employees outside the Bank Bumiputra Commerce in Kuala Lumpur today was rudely interrupted when water was poured on them from the building above, forcing them to continue inside.

The employees, who came from banks all over the city, had carried balloons and placards with slogans like 'Don't victimise us', 'Stop union-busting' and 'We want unions' at the entrance to the bank on Jalan Tun Perak.

Accompanied by representatives from the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, the picketers sang songs of workers' solidarity and beat on drums as passing motorists hooted in support while several policemen stood watch.

The picket, part of a nationwide affair, was organised by the 28,000-strong National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) to protest the abrupt termination by all commercial banks, of subscription deduction of union fees since Oct 22.