The National Union of Journalists-Utusan Melayu (NUJ-UM) branch will submit its claims to the Industrial Relations Department (IRD) on Monday after talks over the collective agreement (CA) were derailed last month.

Branch chairperson Norila Mohd Daud, who is also NUJ president, said the decision to refer the matter to the IRD was reached at a meeting two days ago with members.

"The collective decision was to maintain the status quo. No one wanted the management-proposed Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme to replace the existing gratuity scheme," she said today.

Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd had proposed to replace the long-standing gratuity scheme with a five percent contribution to the EPF, which was unanimously rejected by the union.

Norila said the management had also submitted a counter-proposal to the IRD.

"Members only accepted the proposal for medical benefits. This is where an annual RM6,000 and RM30,000 is provided per family and individual respectively, plus a daily RM120 for hospitalisation."

The previous CA expired in July 2002.

Petrol allowance

On Sept 16, about 100 members held a picket outside the daily's main printing plant off Jalan Chan Sow Lin in Kuala Lumpur.

"We wanted a 15 percent increment for each grade (of employees). The management countered that with five percent but we rejected it as it is below the industry standard," she said.

NUJ-UM's request to raise the existing transportation allowance by RM100 was also rejected.

"Those who use their own vehicles currently get a RM450 allowance while those using public transport get RM400. We agreed to an increase of at least RM80, especially with the recent hike in petrol price."

Norila said that was also rejected.

Management personnel at Utusan Melayu, publisher of Utusan Malaysia broadsheet with a circulation of 280,000, refused to comment when contacted.