The Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union is staging a strike at three branches of Hume Industries (M) Bhd, a subsidiary of Hong Leong Malaysia, alleging breach of terms in relation to the collective agreement (CA).

Starting yesterday, 253 union members are holding twice-daily pickets outside the premises of Hume Industries (M) Bhd (concrete division) in Penang, Hume Industries (M) Bhd (concrete division) in Pahang and Hume Cemboard Industries Sdn Bhd (primaboard division) in Perak.

Union secretary-general Zainuddin Abdul Ghani claimed that 96 unionised employees were issued with one week's notice of retrenchment dated June 24, on grounds of redundancy.

He said this was in breach of the CA which stipulates that eight weeks' notice is required in the event of retrenchment, but conceded that full compensation had been offered in lieu of notice.

Zainuddin also claimed that the matter was not discussed with the union, while contract workers have been employed to replace permanent staff.

"How are the retrenched workers expected to find new jobs in a matter of a week? Most of them are above 40... not many companies would want to hire older staff," he said.

"Even if they do, those retrenched will not be able to earn the same amount. They are married and have children to support, as well as financial commitments like housing and car loans. The companies have left them in the lurch."

When contacted this afternoon, officers of the three branches would not respond to questions. Hume Cemboard human resources manager KH Chung, based in Kuala Lumpur, also declined to comment.

IRD to intervene

Zainuddin said he had met the Pahang factory operations manager Rohamad Mohamad Saaid, who had allegedly claimed that his hands were tied because this was the company's decision.

This morning, he took the matter to the state Industrial Relations Department (IRD), which has agreed to contact the management to discuss his proposal to rehire those retrenched.

Asked to elaborate on the reasons for the retrenchment exercise, Zainuddin said the situation in Perak was purportedly due to automation of the factory through upgrading of machinery ( see pix ).

"That's fair enough but why retrench permanent workers and not the contract staff? This again goes against the CA," he said.

He said there are 150 contract staff in the Penang operations, 120 in Perak and100 in Pahang. Yet, 54 employees have been retrenched in Penang, eight in Perak and 34 in Pahang.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress president, Zainal Rampak told malaysiakini that employees of the Perak operations had informed him about the recent presence of police officers on the premises.

"They were uncomfortable about this. I've written to the Inspector-General of Police with copies to the IRD director-general in Putrajaya and the IRD office in Perak," he said.

"I have asked them to advise the company not involve the police, but to hold dialogues with the union since this is a trade dispute. If there is need for third-party involvement, then the human resources ministry should be approached."

Yesterday, Zainal had met Human Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn in Putrajaya to discuss union-related matters including the handling of disputes in three companies.