The Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) and Sarawak Commercial Banks Association (SCBA) have finally agreed on a nine percent salary revision in the new Collective Agreement (CA) effective from Jan 1, 2003 to Dec 31, 2005.

The new CA took more than a year to conclude with the help of the Industrial Relations Department, Association of Banks Malaysia and the Malayan Commercial Banks Association.

The stand off began when the banks offered only five percent which equates to average increase of only RM75 per month compared to nine percent - an average increment of RM170 per month as requested by SBEU.

All SBEU members, in meetings held in12 towns throughout Sarawak, had overwhelmingly voted to reject the disappointing offer by SCBA early this year.

Members then authorised the union's executive council to take whatever actions necessary to fight for a more fair and equitable CA.

"We are happy with the deal," said SBEU secretary-general Andrew Lo when asked to comment on the matter.

Sexual harassment

SCBA and SBEU also agreed to adopt a memorandum on a code of conduct for the prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace.

The agreement was signed by SCBA president Andrew Kanchu and SBEU president Hadiah Leen. It was witnessed by Human Resources Ministry's director-general of industrial relations Mohd Yunus Razzaly and the Malayan Commercial Bank Association president Munira M. Salinger.

The agreement was endorsed by 96 percent of SBEU members.

In an overwhelming show of support to their union, SBEU members also agreed to contribute 10 percent of their arrears to the union.

SBEU will also set aside 10 percent of the amount from the arrears - estimated at RM800,000 - for charity purposes.

Among the banks that have adopted the agreement are Affin Bank, Alliance Bank, Ambank, Bumiputera-Commerce Bank, RHB Bank, Eon Bank, Hong Leong Bank and HSBC. The others are Maybank, OCBC, Public Bank, Southern Bank, Standard Chartered, United Overseas Bank, Mayban Finance and Public Finance.

The agreement will cover about 3,000 clerical employees of all commercial banks and finance companies in Sarawak who are members of SCBA.

JIMMY TEOH is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.