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The National Union of Bank Employees’ (NUBE) clerical and administrative
staff are asking for a 30% pay increase, and counter and frontline staff are
wearing badges that state, “We deserve 30%.”
<p>“Banks are making huge profits, but employees are given so little in salary
adjustments. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is no longer a basis for salary
adjustment as it is so small and prices are consistently increasing,” said
NUBE secretary-general J. Solomon. </p>
<p>He said fuel prices and toll charges had increased, the cost of medical drugs
had risen by 28%, and electricity and water tariffs had shot up by 12% and 15%
respectively. </p>
<p>He added that it was unclear if the CPI reflected actual household consumption.
</p>
<p>“The manner in which the data for the CPI is collected is questionable
and the accuracy of the information cannot be determined.” </p>
<p>Solomon said wages of NUBE members grew by only an average of 9%. </p>
<p>“This reflects a severely poor distribution of the productivity gains
achieved by the banks,” he added. </p>
<p>NUBE’s first phase of the salary increase campaign began a few months
ago when about 30,000 members wore a colourful badge with the words, “I
stand for my rights”. </p>
<p>NUBE’s negotiation for the salary increase is with the bank’s umbrella
body, the Malayan Commercial Banks Association (MCBA). </p>
<p>When contacted, an MCBA official said negotiations were ongoing.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/21/nation/18081957&sec=nation</i>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com