Bumiputra Commerce Bank (BCB) unionised employees fear they may have lost their membership as no automatic deduction for their union dues was made from their December salary which was paid last Friday.

Loss of membership is automatic if union members fail to pay their fees for three consecutive months. The bank, along with eight others, had followed a directive to stop the automatic deduction, also known as the check-off facility, in October because of a split in the union.

A BCB unionised staff, who declined to be named, yesterday said it was a major blow to the 4,000 union members when they found that the deduction was not made in their December salary.

"This means that our union status is no longer valid and our greatest fear is now confirmed," said the bank employee who works in a Kuala Lumpur branch.

"I wonder whether the bank has purposely paid our salary much earlier before the human resources minister (Dr Fong Chan Onn) made any announcement regarding the meeting between the commercial banks and union," he said.

Fong announced Friday that the nine commercial banks and the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) have reached an amicable solution over the issue after the former agreed to set up a 'special account' for the salary deduction.

The nine banks under the Malayan Commercial Banks Association (MCBA) are Alliance Bank, Maybank, Bumiputra Commerce, Hong Leong Bank, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC), Affin Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank and Standard Chartered.

Union-busting ploy

Most banks are giving out the December salary early in view of the Christmas celebration but this is no joyous occasion, at least not to the unionised member who wondered if the employers had taken advantage of the situation to kill the union.

The banks stopped the check-off facility in October, citing legality as an excuse after the union of 28,000 members broke into two factions three months earlier.

Meanwhile, a source from NUBE claimed that no progress on the ground has been made so far despite the minister's announcement that the parties have reached a solution.

"NUBE is still in the dark over the matter as there have been no details made available to us. The commercial banks have yet to come back to us with any black and white," said the officer, who claimed he only learned of the latest development through media reports.

"This make us wonder whether MCBA is really sincere in dealing with us," he said.

Last Wednesday, NUBE president Abdul Jalil Abdul Hamid said the bank association should not come up with any more excuses after meeting with Fong if it was sincere in resolving outstanding issues with employees.

He said the outcome of the meeting was critical as it reflected the association's interest in settling a dispute with the union.

Written notice

"Unless there is a black and white given to us and the check-off is resumed in the December pay, then we'll consider this issue [to have] solved amicably," the source added.

"But, as of yesterday, it does not seem to be that way," he further said.

NUBE secretary-general J Solomon ( photo ) when contacted yesterday said that the union will find way to 'save' the memberships of the affected staff, possibly through 'manual' fees payment.

"We have no choice but to look into this option seriously," he commented.

Other banks are expected to pay the salary to their staff before Dec 20.

Despite numerous attempts made, the MCBA officials could not be reached for comment.