Twenty five in-house union officials and members have been slapped with an immediate suspension for "suspected indiscipline" by Dunham Bush Industries Sdn Bhd for participating in an illegal strike last Monday.

The company, which manufactures commercial and industrial air-conditioners with plants in Bangi and Kajang, issued letters for the two-week suspension to the workers after a briefing yesterday morning.

Of the 25 workers from various departments, including production operators, maintenance, quality control and line leaders, five are from the Bangi plant.

When contacted, Dunham Bush human resources manager Abdul Shukor Ismail said the workers were identified for suspension based on the observations of department heads.

"We have not issued the charge because we have reasons to suspect indiscipline. It is more of an investigation into the illegal strike earlier in the week where all the unionised workers put down their tools without notice.

"But we are still not certain about the charges. We will first contemplate the 25 workers' extent of involvement in the strike before deciding anything," he explained.

"I will personally investigate on who issued the workers with instructions to down their tools."

Technically unlawful

Yesterday, director of trade unions Mohd Zubir Mohd Basri said the two-hour strike was unlawful on grounds of technicality.

"We have already declared to the union (on Tuesday) that their secret balloting is null and void as certain procedures under Section 40(4) of the Trade Union Act were not complied with."

The Electrical Industry Workers' Union held secret balloting on Sept 17 for a mandate to initiate industrial action after several attempted negotiation on the collective agreement (CA) failed in January.

Union general secretary P Maniyam said the strike was initially planned for Oct 13 morning but was delayed due to a request for a meeting with the company.

"We agreed to meet the company but when the company remained adamant against our stand to maintain the terms of the previous CA, we decided to call for a short strike that evening."

He said the union, acting on legal advice, plans to write to Dunham Bush asking it to lift the suspension.

"We will also send a letter to the minister and the relevant departments asking them to exert pressure on the company.

"Failing this, we will schedule a picket next week, and this time it is for the suspended members."

Industrial Relations Department officials were outstation and unavailable for comments.

On Wednesday, all 284 unionised workers at Dunham Bush were denied entry into the factory premises for two days following Monday's strike.

The situation has since returned to normal after the Industrial Relations Department advised the company to lift the lockout.

The union membership stands at 28,000 from 65 factories throughout the country.