12 January 2004

Salary Revision

SBEU asked for 9% salary revision. The Banks only offered 5%,  which equates to an average increase of only RM75 a month.

For 2002 MAYBANK paid dividends totalling RM 1.2 Billion to shareholders, yet the Banks refused to give another 4%, which is only an additional RM 2.1 Million a year.

The amount Maybank is returning to its shareholders is enough to pay for the additional 4% FOR 570 YEARS!!

Total Banks' profits were more than RM7 Billion in 2001, RM9.3 Billion in 2002 and will top RM10 Billion in 2003. The profits of the past 3 years of more than RM26 Billion is enough to pay for the additional 4% salary increase for 12500 years - Yes more than 10,000 years!!

With VSS and attrition, employees' headcounts are heavily reduced, and we have to perform more business turnovers and revenue increased, profits per employee increased from RM119,000 to RM124,000 in 2002.

Members are now facing tremendous pressure at work - They have to clear a customer within 2 minutes and customer's waiting must not be more than 5 minutes.

At the same time they have to be salespersons - given targets to sell at least 5 credits card a week, make loans referral, and open 10 new accounts.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 2

Performance Related Remuneration System (PRRS)

It now appears that the Banks are not very keen on PRRS. Why? Because they are making huge profits? in Bad times they will talk about PRRS.

It is SBEU that is pushing for a PRRS. We are ready to convert one month of our 2-months contractual bonus to one that is based on performance.

All we are asking is for Banks to meet us half way - by giving an additional adjustment for existing employees of 4.5% The Banks are only willing to add 2% when we give up 8.33%

The Banks also refused to agree to key guidelines on transparency in performance appraisals.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 3

SBEU agreed to reduce sick leave, & OT calculations, but we get minimal returns.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 4

Housing Loan

Banks refuse to lower interest rates for staff loan - some banks are charging staff 4%, yet customers enjoy as low as 1.9%

Bank offer to increase housing loan to RM160,000 but refuse to allow progressive repayment - meaning that most staff will not be able to utilise the full loan.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 5

Banks refuse to make available free monthly payment instructions for employees to pay for their utilities bills & insurance premiums.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 6

Transfer

Banks have been transferring staff, including office boy earning less than RM1000 per month with 5 children, from Lawas to Kuching without any monthly housing allowance. SCBA refused to even consider paying a housing allowance for employee who remained transferred.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 7

Senior Special Grade

Banks are only giving lip service to job empowerment. They demand that staff are multi skilled and be able to perform the full spectrum of banking jobs; cashiers are expected to sell credit cards and housing loans, yet they REFUSE to introduce more grades to better reflect the duties and responsibilities of these new type of jobs.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 8

Banks refused to follow Government's move to increase retirement age to 56 years old.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 9 

Childcare

Banks are discriminating against male employees by refusing to extend Childcare allowance to them - This surely contravenes Article 8 of Federal Constitution, which prohibit discrimination based on SEX.

DISAPPOINTMENT NO. 10

Minimal Improvements

• Mileage allowance increase by 5ct

• Increase family medical limit to $1100 a year - but very few utilised the full amount

• Increase insurance coverage by $10,000 to RM 110,000 - but you have to be dead to be able to enjoy this benefit.

WHAT PRICE GOODWILL?

SBEU members will continue to serve customers as best as we can, but for how long? SBEU will refrain from taking any actions that may hinder customer services, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the management.

Our Goodwill and cooperation extended to the Banks during the Banks mergers, the Branch rationalisation and the VSS programme has counted for nothing.

SBEU may be left with no choice but to embark on Industrial Action or refer the matter to the Industrial Court.

All SBEU members in meetings held in 12 towns throughout Sarawak last week, has overwhelmingly voted to reject the disappointing offer by SCBA.

Members authorised the Union's EXCO to take whatever actions necessary to fight for a more fair and equitable Collective Agreement.

A Disappointed Employee is not a Productive Employee