The first recognized electronic union in Malaysia
January 27, 2011
Malaysian electronics workers secure union rights
The newly formed Electronics Industry Workers'
Union (Southern Region) successfully campaign to secure union rights at
ST Microelectronics in Muar, Malaysia
MALAYSIA: January 27, 2011 was a victorious day in
the long struggle of the Malaysian electronics workers to join a union
of their choice. An historic milestone was reached when ST
Microelectronics workers, a majority of them women workers, voted in
favour to join the newly formed Electronics Industry Workers' Union
(Southern Region).
The journey to this struggle started on the
August 2, 2010, when the union served claim for recognition at this
electronics transnational corporation (TNC) which is located in the
coastal town of Muar, where many other electronics TNCs have established
manufacturing operation for a long time.
The management, instead
of recognizing the union, sought to challenge its membership status. In
the pending period the management resorted to all forms of anti-union
tactics, including attempts to register a company controlled in-house
union.
With concerted assistance from the International
Metalworkers' Federation, the union foiled the company's attempts, thus
paving the way for the workers to vote for union representation. Out of a
workforce of about 2700 workers, slightly more than 1700 turned up to
vote, with the union succeeding in securing 57 per cent of votes in
favour of the union.
IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina wrote to
the CEO of this company and received an assurance that the company would
respect local labour laws and practices and ensure workers' rights are
respected.
On the morning of the balloting, the police and local
authorities attempted to disrupt the union from gathering outside the
factory where balloting was conducted by the Ministry of Human
Resources. IMF Regional Representative Arunasalam intervened and met the
company's Human Resources Director, and following that the pressure
from the police and local authorities reduced.
The results of the
balloting were announced at 12:30am on January 28 and the union leaders
who had waited since early morning hugged each other and jumped in joy.
Mohd Salleh, the main coordinator of the union, expressed thanks and
appreciation to the IMF for assisting in securing trade union rights in
this company. He said that without IMF's assistance the union could have
faced severe setbacks in its quest to represent the workers. He
stressed, that since majority of the workers have voted in favour of the
union, the company should recognise the union without any further
delay.Jan 31, 2011 – P. Arunasalam
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