The public may need to be patient in dealing with their banks from tomorrow onwards when many bank employees are expected to start their 'work to rule' campaign as the current dispute between the banks and the union intensifies.

The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) and its umbrella body, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said today that their 25,000 members nationwide are withdrawing their cooperation with their employers and will be working according to rule tomorrow.

MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran, in his press release today, put the blame on the banks for refusing to reinstate the check-off facility for their employees despite repeated appeals by the union.

The Malayan Commercial Banks Association (MCBA) which represents 13 major banks in October unilaterally withdrew the check-off facility which automatically deducts their employees' salaries to pay for their monthly union fees.

NUBE members will soon lose their membership rights if they fail to settle their dues.

However, Rajasekaran also explained that the union decision to work according to rule was also driven by other factors.

Increased workload

"Many employees will go on Hari Raya leave, and this will increase tremendously workload on the remaining staff. Millions of new notes will go into circulation and members have been instructed to be extra careful in counting before handing over the notes to customers," he said.

The union leader admitted that working to rule will cause delays and frustration among the customers, but insisted that the employees have to safeguard their interests first.

"Banks are waiting to pounce on staff even for [the] slightest mistake," Rajasekaran said.

When contacted over the phone, NUBE general secretary J Solomon concurred with Rajasekaran's stand.

Though he acknowledged that customers will be inconvenienced, he too defended the staff's actions.

"When the fire-fighters in England went on strike, there were people dying from fires. Here, (people only have to wait) a bit longer, and no one is going to die. They only have wait a little longer in the banks," he said.

MCBA warned

Solomon also hinted that NUBE may reconsider dealing with the banks.

"All banks have individually recognised NUBE in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1959. Therefore, it is appropriate that we deal with the banks directly," he said.

He warned MCBA that if its uncooperative attitude persists, the workers union will be compelled to take the next course of action.

Solomon said the banks had been informed on the union's 'work-to-rule' campaign yesterday.

The MCBA represents the Alliance Bank, Maybank, Bumiputra-Commerce Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Affin Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank and Standard Chartered.

The association cited the union's leadership tussle and its avoidance of any ensuing legal entanglement for scrapping the check-off. It said it would rather wait for the problem to be resolved before resuming the facility.

NUBE launched a nationwide picket against the banks last Thursday over the matter. The picket has been held at the Public Bank headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for the last two days.

However, there is still no signs of compromise from the banks and NUBE has indicated that it will proceed with the picket after the Hari Raya break.