Nufam seeks PM's intervention to save jobs at MAS

PETALING JAYA: The National Union of Flight Attendants (Nufam), which has been protesting the retrenchment of Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) employees under its latest restructuring plan since it was announced, will send a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya today (Monday), in a last ditch effort to stop the terminations planned for June 1.
The move follows an internal staff circular dated May 5 sent out by MAS new CEO Christoph Mueller, which stated that employees will receive their termination and offer letters at their home address around June 1.
Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin said the union is very concerned over the manner of termination and how those terminated may be affected in their work performance.
According to Ismail, employees who will be offered employment in the New Co will receive both the termination and offer letters together. Employees who will not be offered employment in the New Co will only be served with a termination letter and a three month notice period. These employees will also be offered "garden leave" until their contract ends in August.
He told reporters at a press conference last Friday that, no proper counseling has been offered to employees who will be affected by the job cut and Nufam and MAS 3,500 cabin crew were never consulted over the termination plans.
Nufam currently is not recognised by MAS and Khazanah as a union representing cabin crew of MAS, as a secret ballot process which had initially voted Nufam in as the union representing MAS cabin crew is currently being challenged in court. Officially, Nufam has 1,200 members.
Nufam, which claims to represent 65% of the 3,500 cabin crew, is protesting the termination exercise and urging MAS to reconsider offering medium and short term lay offs, salary cuts and wage reductions before a final termination exercise is carried out.
He also highlighted Nufam's concern over the selection process carried out by MAS and how the management will sift through employees' files to select those eligible for employment to the New Co.
Nufam will also be writing a letter to Mueller, who took over from CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya on May 1.
Meanwhile Ismail said Nufam, which is a national union representing cabin crewmembers, has called for claim of recognition with Malindo Air and has received a reply from the airline. It is now in the process of calling all parties involved for a discussion. Nufam also plans to call for claim of recognition with other airlines including AirAsia Bhd.