MORE THAN 30 WORKERS AT GUPPY GET
THE SACK !
Cheras Jaya, 29th. June
2001
More than 30 workers who are above
the age of fifty got a rude shock when their employer; Guppy Plastic Industries
Sdn. Bhd. gave them a 24 hours termination notice. The notice was handed to
them by the Human Resource Manager, Mr. Sivananthan who also gave each worker
some money which he claimed as gratitude allowance.
What was even more annoying was the
workers were also told to come back to work on the 9th. July as they
will be then offered a contract job. Union chairperson, Comrade Koyilvani said
this is the employer's dirty tactics to make them contract workers. She said
that the union would consider this an unlawful dismissal and take up the issue.
By offering them contract job, it is also clear that the company is not facing
any financial crisis but rather is a move to further maximize profit at the
expense of the workers welfare.
Comrade Letchimi Dewi, Community
Development Centre (CDC) coordinator met several affected workers at the
movement office at Kajang. She said that the fifty years retirement age was
below the normal standard and in this case, the employer has a different
retirement age for men and women workers. This she said the is a gross
violation to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution which says that everyone is
equal.
Some workers attribute the companies
action is to have young workers who can work like machines so that the company
can maintain its ISO standards. The Union is not surprised with the company's
attitude. The Employers have a very bad Industrial record as they have not yet
recognized the union and have sacked the three principal office bearers of the
union.
As an immediate action, the union
will be submitting a protest letter asking the employer to reinstate all the
workers. Failing which, the union along with the workers will be planning more
drastic actions. Workers who are not affected by this action are also very
annoyed with this move and have agreed to stand by their sacked comrades to
seek justice.
S. Arutchelvan