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3 March 2012
Dear Comrades and Friends,
Three Women Unionists Need Funds for a
Legal Battle
The Appeals
Court judges on the 21st March 2012 allowed the Bosses appeal
against 3 women activist who were dismissed 14 years ago allegedly for conducting
union activities during work hours. It was definitely one of the most
unscrupulous judgments – a clear endorsement of union busting by the learned
judges, Abdul Wahab Patail, Ananthan Kasinathan and Linton Albert.
Dear Friends
and comrades, we have only one last legal option available to seek justice for
the plight of three brave women unionist and their 14 years struggle for
justice. We want to appeal to the Federal Court. The chances of winning is
maybe slim but no struggle ends without a fight and fight till the end we
shall.
We would
need to raise a minimum of RM 5,000 for their case for legal disbursements.
Background
Guppy Union
was started by an entirely women workers who worked in a plastic factory in
Balakong, Cheras. Their struggle and desire to start a Union started fourteen
years ago, when they were frustrated with their bosses for increasing their
wages a mere 10cents.
The workers then
decided, ‘it’s time to get organised’ and the first meeting to establish Union
Protem Committee was held on the 16 Nov 1997. The entire leadership was in the
hands of women workers. Koyilvani who was serving the Guppy Industries since
July 1989, Roshamiza since April 1993 and Kanniamah since July 1991 were the
office bearers along with 4 other committee members. The government approved
Guppy Industries Workers Union on 27 April 1998 after much hassle. Since then
union members recruitment work was intensified as the Trade Union Registrar
rule says 3/4 workers must become members in order to get management’s
recognition. The workers faced numerous harassment from the management that was
trying hard to discourage the workers from joining the union. The union applied
for their recognition on the 30 May 1998.
4 days later
after notifying their intention to form a Union to the company, all 7 office
bearers were suspended on various allegations. Many reports were lodged with
the relevant government agencies against the union busting boss. There was no
proper domestic inquiry and the main 3 key people were sacked with 24 hours
notice on 18 Jun 1998. The other 4 were suspended and reinstated meanwhile 2 of
these members, deputy chairperson, Rahimah and deputy treasurer, Visaletchumy
were later suspended again on 25 Aug 2001 and finally sacked on 3 Oct 2011 for
another wild allegation –
Of course
the Companies uses many trumped up reasons to sack the workers.
Obviously,
the application for union recognition was rejected, apparently because there
was no ¾ membership. It seems Guppy has another branch in Prai, Penang. The
union then extended their recruitment activity in Prai and so does the company
in harassing workers from joining the union. Two active Prai union committee
members, Kumaresan and Suriakala were sacked on 29 & 30 Oct 2001.
Now what do you call all this? Is this not Union
Busting? The Industrial Court does not believe so and they believe on the
Company story entirely which is misconduct while the Appeal Court agrees to
this.
The struggle
of how the Guppy Union tried to survive despite the union busting by the Guppy
Management can go on and on. The workers and the union leaders have suffered
and gone through a lot of predicament. In the entire situation, government
department and their laws did not help – it’s useless!
Friends,
these are some of the reasons, why we can’t let go of the one last chance we
have – to file for appeal at the Federal Court. To do that, the 3 workers need
to pay an amount of not less than RM5, 000 for legal disbursement. The leave
application need to be filed by the 21 March 2012. They can’t afford the money
and we seek your support to raise RM5,000.
As you know,
in Malaysia less than 7% workers are unionized. Several employment and union
busting laws were created more than 30 years ago and are continuously being
amended to favor the bosses and undermine the workers movement. PSM is planning
to intensify our campaign against union busting bosses with support from other
progressive unions in the coming month. We are hoping that this campaign would
give more credentials to this appeal case to be filed soon.
If you are
interested to contribute to the legal disbursement, to enable our pro borno
lawyers to file the case, please contact Koyilvani at 016-3733692 or myself at
016-9268776. You could also bank in the contribution to our Parti Sosialis
Malaysia, Kajang Branch AM Bank account No. 0872012007009
We thank you
for your support to the cause.
In
solidarity,
Letchimi Devi.D
Coordinator
Coordinator
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