A total of 284 employees of an air-conditioner manufacturer have been locked out of their workplaces in Kajang and Bangi since yesterday due to an ongoing trade dispute involving their collective agreement (CA) negotiations.

In a statement today, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary general G Rajasekaran said that the company has only allowed foreign workers to enter the premises.

He added that MTUC was "disturbed and deeply concerned by the inconsiderate and unreasonable approach" taken by the management.

"The Industrial Relations Department's efforts to persuade the company to allow all employees to resume work have been unsuccessful."

"The fact that the company has 200 foreign workers and are still working shows that their business is good. Most employees are required to work overtime almost daily," he said.

Officials from the company, which manufactures the popular Top Air air-conditioners and Dunham Bush industrial air-conditioners, were unavailable for comment.

The workers are represented by the Electrical Industry Workers' Union, which has a total membership of 28,000.

CA negotiations

At the core of the dispute is the negotiation for the third CA which was deferred for 18 months with the union's agreement following the company's appeal citing financial difficulties.

The second CA expired in July 2001.

Both parties reached a deadlock after several attempts at negotiating the CA, culminating in a strike on Monday afternoon within the factory premises when workers stopped working for two hours.

Rajasekaran said the company was adamant about having minimum benefits as stipulated under the Employment Act instead of negotiating on improvements in the CA.

"The union, on the other hand, merely wants to maintain the same terms (as in the second CA)."

Contacted today, union general secretary P Maniyam said the industrial relations department had notified him that the CA had been referred to the industrial court by the Human Resources Ministry.

He said the workers were denied entry into the factory since yesterday morning and a notice posted at the guard house stated that all union members were prohibited from entering the premises.

"The lockout was on today. The department has advised the company to permit workers to enter the factory but we'll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.

"Fact is, once the case is in the industrial court, the company can no longer impose the lockout."

Maniyam said if workers were still denied entry tomorrow, it would be unlawful.

"The company would be liable to a RM1,000 fine or a one year jail sentence or both. It would also be liable to a RM50 fine for every day the lockout continues under Section 44 of the Industrial Relations Act."

Ministry officials were unavailable for comments.