No negotiation, no end to picketing, says NUBE VP over harassment case
'So far, there has been no positive development, as they remain silent.'
KUALA LUMPUR - The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) resumed protests outside a local bank in Kuala Lumpur, with its Vice President stating they will continue picketing until the other party agrees to negotiations.
NUBE Vice President Mohd Faisal Husin claimed that despite six weeks of continuous picketing, the local bank’s management has yet to initiate any negotiations to resolve the issue.
“We will continue picketing until the other party engages in negotiations, but so far, there has been no positive development, as they remain silent.
“According to Article 6, in any worker-related issue, the bank must consult with NUBE, the sole representative for clerical and non-clerical staff.
“Everything we have done is in strict accordance with the Industrial Relations Act 1967, ensuring we follow the correct procedures. When no resolution is reached, our only recourse is to inform the public through picketing,” he said when met at a protest outside a bank at Jalan Medan Tuanku, here, yesterday.
Faisal also said that he knew the victim personally and said that she had been an active member of NUBE.
“When she faced sexual harassment, we adhered to the process outlined in Article 4 of the Collective Agreement. Unfortunately, it was the bank that failed to comply with the laws and provisions related to sexual harassment, causing this issue to drag on.
“This is why we intervened, urging them to address the matter. Despite sending letters to the chief executive officer and Head of Human Resources, we have received no response.
“It appears they (local bank) has exploited the laws regarding sexual harassment, neglecting the rights of their female employees,” he alleged.
Faisal further claimed that instead of receiving justice, the victim who reported the incident was suspended by the bank's management, while the perpetrator remained unpunished.
“Unlike other banks, where sexual harassment cases prompt immediate action, their (local bank) management allowed the perpetrator to further victimise the victim.
“This should never have happened,” he said.
At the protest held yesterday, about 50 participants attended the protest including NUBE Secretary-General J. Solomon.
The peaceful demonstration, which lasted an hour from 6pm, featured protesters carrying placards with messages like ‘CEO talam dua muka’ (two-faced CEO) and ‘CEO songlap duit kerja B40 M40’ (CEO steals B40 and M40s money).
They were also seen chanting slogans such as "Hidup rakyat" and "Everywhere we go, people want to know why we picket."
Recently, protests have erupted across Malaysia at several of the bank branches since early August following the suspension of a female employee who claimed to be sexually harassed by her male superior at the Bercham, Ipoh branch.
Demonstrations had been held in cities including Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown and Kota Bharu, with participants demanding accountability from the said bank for their handling of the case.
These protests, led by NUBE, highlighted the alleged systemic workplace misconduct within the bank.
The protests began after the employee, who claimed to have been harassed and bullied since 2021, was suspended on Aug 20 for ‘insubordination’ after declining to attend an investigative interview without union involvement.
Despite her repeated complaints, the bank's management had allegedly failed to discipline the superior and instead, turned the focus on the victim.
NUBE has vowed to continue protesting until justice is served and has called for legal action against the bank.
On Aug 29, Maybank issued a statement that denied allegations of unfair treatment and harassment, claiming the matter was under legal proceedings.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Maybank claimed that it had taken all necessary steps and was involved in legal processes with NUBE, denying the union's claims of unfair actions.
The Malayan Commercial Banks' Association (MCBA) also supported this stance.
However, NUBE rejected this denial, accusing the bank of misrepresentation and manipulating the situation to avoid accountability.
The union emphasised that the case had not yet reached the courts, contrary to the bank’s claims and accused the bank of using ongoing legal processes to delay justice.
NUBE also called for an independent investigation into Maybank's top management, urging stakeholders, including Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and the government, to hold the bank accountable.
