MTUC sec-gen: MAS should immediately recognise Nufam
Malaysian Trades Union Congress Secretary-General J Solomon has called on Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) to grant immediate recognition to the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) following a Federal Court decision in the latter's favour.
"After a two-year court battle, the Federal Court denied Malaysia Airlines Bhd leave to appeal in a dispute with Nufam over the national carrier’s failure to acknowledge in-flight supervisors (IFS workers) as not being employed in any managerial, executive, confidential or security capacity.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Secretary-General J Solomon (above) has called on Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) to grant immediate recognition to the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) following a Federal Court decision in the latter's favour.
"After a two-year court battle, the Federal Court denied Malaysia Airlines Bhd leave to appeal in a dispute with Nufam over the national carrier’s failure to acknowledge in-flight supervisors (IFS workers) as not being employed in any managerial, executive, confidential, or security capacity.
"This had rendered this group of workers as not having a right to vote in recognising Nufam as a union.
"We thank all the courts concerned for recognising the basic rights of workers in the country," said Solomon in a statement today.
Solomon called on Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong to take the initiative and show that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government cares for the plight of the employees to direct MAS management to invite Nufam to the negotiating table and settle the issue once and for all.
Solomon said that ever since MAS was formed in 2015 (in place of Malaysia Airline System Bhd which was wound up), it had not recognised Nufam as a union representing its employees.
The new company had also claimed the IFS workers were under the managerial/executive grade while Nufam argued that the IFS category of workers should be eligible to vote together with other cabin crew employees.
"As a result of the decision by the apex court on July 22, Nufam's trade union recognition process can now proceed with IFS workers being allowed to vote.
"As a GLC, we urge the MAS management to set a good example by granting recognition of the union immediately as too much time has been wasted because of this legal battle which the airline instituted.
Solomon said the court battle had deprived workers of their basic social protection for many years and the only remedy was to grant immediate recognition to the union to negotiate a collective agreement.
"If MAS does not even do this, it will only confirm their continuity of anti-union tactics which may seem like the government is using its GLCs to bust unions," claimed Solomon.
He cited that the right to form trade unions was protected by the labour laws of Malaysia.
"Despite this, trade unions face numerous hurdles in their quest to demand job security, decent work, and fair wages for workers.
"Certainly, most workers expect the government to ensure that this right is not only protected but enhanced, as the situation demands, in the interest of workers.
"This right encompasses unions’ right to organise, draw up constitutions and rules, elect their representatives in full freedom, to organise their administration and their activities, and to formulate their programmes.
"Unions expect that public authorities shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede their lawful exercise of those rights," he added.
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