News from Malaysia & Singapore

Metal Box Sabotaged

The strike of the 400 Metalbox (MB) workers in Singapore (see FNS Vol 3 No9) entered its 17th day on April 21st, probably the longest industrial action in recent years. In spite of various obstacles, the workers remained united and won the support and admiration of other workers and the general public.

According to the 21st April Straits Times report, the striking workers received "donations in cash and kind from the public. Among other . . . 100 sacks of rice." This rare public defiance of the exploitative system was met with sabotage and threat, not only from the management but also from the government-controlled trade union movement.

The strike, which was about the high-handed policy of the management towards the workers and the unjust dismissal of 19 female operators and 3 watchmen, was led by the Singapore Metal Box Workers' Union (SMBWU). This particular union is independent and is not affiliated to the government controlled trade union movement.

On the day when the workers took strike action, the management dismissed 46 workers for their "walkabout", and using the excuse of "retrenchment", dismissing many others. In all, 400 of the 650 workers participated in the action. Three days later, the company went ahead to sack another 360 workers. As a usual tactic the company put up a notice: "Those wishing to seek fresh employment could submit their application forms." The general manager further added, "all dismissed employees could apply but it is up to the management to decide whether to employ them"

This tactic was by no means new, as in a collective agreement, the management employed the same gimmick but to no avail. The president of the SMBWU told the press that they were "not bothered" and would continue to strike.

Few days later, the Secretary General of the NTUC, Devan Nair, who has nothing to do with the strike, issued a statement condemning the workers. Devan threatened that "SMBWU must bear the consequences of Ignoring the advice of the NTUC not to go on strike". Devan then went on to accuse the democratically elected leaders of SMBWU of "misleading the employees of MB" and even unethically went to the extent of describing the SMBWU as "can no longer protect the employees of MB" This allegation of Devan which is both slanderous and deceitful. It was reported as early as April 5th in the Straits Times that "the strike was sanctioned by a secret ballot taken on March 19th", and thus wholly democratic and proper.

Devan's statement was aimed at creating public opinion to justify the subsequent action of the government supported PIEU (Pioneer Industries Employees' Union) in undercutting and breaking the SMBWU strike. Few days after the speech, a deal was made between the MB management and the PIEU. Through dubious PIEU made some of the 150 non-striking workers its members and was was immediately granted recognition by the MB. The collaboration was meant not only to disrupt and confuse the workers, but also designed to remove the legitimacy of the SMBWU as the recognised body representing and articulating MB workers' interests.

Once the Registrar of Trade Union endorse the collaboration, the AMBWU will automatically be struck off from the register. This will come as a matter of time, the end of one of the few remaining non-alligned unions is thus in sight.