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9 March, 2000The International Metalworkers' Federation says if GE Malaysia persists in its anti-union behaviour, ILO complaints will be forthcoming.
MALAYSIA/USA: The IMF's general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, has written to Jack Welch, president of General Electric Company, USA, urging him to instruct GE management in Malaysia to grant leave to an employee to attend the IMF-GE World Council meeting in Washington, D.C., on March 22-23. Sazali Dahlan, who works at the GE Motors & Industrial Systems plant in Malaysia, was nominated by the Electrical Industry Workers' Union (EIWU) to attend this meeting, but management has refused, saying that the EIWU is not recognised.
In his letter to Welch, Malentacchi states: "Let me make it clear that the EIWU organises workers in this industry and that it is right to nominate delegates to trade union meetings as well as the concerned workers' right to attend such meetings falls squarely under the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. Management violations of these rights will bring about a complaint to the ILO on the part of the IMF and its affiliates."
The IMF general secretary assured GE's president that, if GE Malaysia persisted in such anti-union attitudes, they would become a focal point not only of the IMF-GE World Council but also of media activities related to the meeting. Moreover, the IMF would bring any continuing violation of GE workers' rights to the attention of all IMF affiliates worldwide, urging them to protest GE's anti-worker behaviour.
The IMF has also informed Malaysia's Minister for Human Resources, Y.B. Dato Fong Chan Onn, of the situation and asked him to assist by ensuring that GE Motors & Industrial Systems, Malaysia, understands and respects its obligations under ILO Conventions.
(Note to readers: See news item of March 16 concerning IMF-GE World Council meeting for update on this situation.)
In his letter to Welch, Malentacchi states: "Let me make it clear that the EIWU organises workers in this industry and that it is right to nominate delegates to trade union meetings as well as the concerned workers' right to attend such meetings falls squarely under the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. Management violations of these rights will bring about a complaint to the ILO on the part of the IMF and its affiliates."
The IMF general secretary assured GE's president that, if GE Malaysia persisted in such anti-union attitudes, they would become a focal point not only of the IMF-GE World Council but also of media activities related to the meeting. Moreover, the IMF would bring any continuing violation of GE workers' rights to the attention of all IMF affiliates worldwide, urging them to protest GE's anti-worker behaviour.
The IMF has also informed Malaysia's Minister for Human Resources, Y.B. Dato Fong Chan Onn, of the situation and asked him to assist by ensuring that GE Motors & Industrial Systems, Malaysia, understands and respects its obligations under ILO Conventions.
(Note to readers: See news item of March 16 concerning IMF-GE World Council meeting for update on this situation.)