SUNGAI PETANI, September 26 – About 120 workers from GS Yuasa Battery Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (The Company) which is located at Lot 1385, Kawasan Perusahaan Tikam Batu, 08600 Sungai Petani, Kedah is picketing on 22nd September 2022 onwards for the following reasons as the Electrical Industry Workers’ Union (The Union) and the Company have concluded twelve (12) Collective Agreements over the years which carries terms and conditions of employment. The 12thCollective Agreement had expired on 28th February 2022.
Consequently, the Union had sent the proposal for the 13th Collective Agreement which takes effect on 01st March 2022; to the Company vide our letter dated 08th March 2022. The Company vide its letter dated 04th July 2022 had requested the co-operation of the Union to reduce the cost of the Company purportedly due to the challenging times. The Company had also stated that Dato’ Ajit Singh Jessy from Jessy & Associates will be leading the Company’s negotiation team.
Vide letter dated 20th July 2022, the Union had registered our disagreement on the presence of 3rd party during the negotiation since lawyer is not a member of trade union of employer; hence they are not competent body to represent the employer. However, the Union had extended its utmost co-operation by reviewing our proposals relating to the terms and conditions of employment to ensure the Company continues to manage its businesses.
Despite of this, the Company had insisted the presence of lawyer during the negotiations. However, the Union had warned that all the while, Collective Agreements were negotiated without outside interferences. Nevertheless, we have given option to consult any person the Company likes before the negotiation commences or during negotiations but no outsiders should come inside the negotiation room.
In spite of our resoluteness, the Company had acted in the most challenging way by bringing the lawyer during the 1st round of 13th Collective Agreement negotiation which was held on 09th August 2022. The Union has no alternative but to leave the negotiation after Company led by its outgoing Managing Director wants the lawyer to negotiate on behalf of the Company.
Since the establishment of EIWU in 1971, there is no 3rd party interference during the negotiation of Collective Agreement. In this Company, we have concluded 12 CAs which was over the last 36 years without the presence of 3rdparty including lawyer. The Union emphasize that the Collective Agreement is only between the trade union of workmen and the employer or trade union of employers as provided under the Industrial Relations Act 1967.
It goes without saying that the representative from Jessy & Associates is not a member of trade union of employer; hence they are not competent body to represent the employer. Due to the prevailing requirement, we register our disagreement on the presence of 3rd party during the negotiation. As we find that the Company as being hard headed, the EIWU has no choice but to stage this picket as provided under the law before deciding its next course of action
