Syarikat Getah Bagus Sdn Bhd - Lighting Action

LIGHTING ACTION

PART ONE

The Incident

In June 2008, SYARIKAT GETAH BAGUS SDN BHD faced a series of actions by its employees who are members of the National Union of Employees of Rubber Goods (NUERG).

The Tyre Division of the Company was plagued by increasing absenteeism, malingering and production delays on the part of the tyre operators.  The Production Manager, Mr. John Ho, alarmed over the deteriorating state of production performance had expressed concern at a recent company conference of Department Heads (10 June 2008) as to whether he could adequately meet the quotas required while ensuring at the same time the quality and reliability of the products especially tyres.

The decline in quality and failure in meeting production requirements had given rise to many complaints from customers and dealers who had asked the Supplies Manager to replace tyres, which had hardly been on the road for three months.  A massive number of rejects had been received for replacement as well as from the Inspectorate Unit.

On 12 June 2008, John Ho, who was very perturbed over the decline in production as well as productivity, called into his office the Worksite Chairman, Tan See Seng, a senior operator with eighteen years’ service.  John Ho was under much pressure as he had also received another special order (the previous week) for production of 10, 000 truck tyres for the government.  An official from the Ministry of Labour’s Industrial Relations Department had met representatives of the Company and the Union, only a week ago, to stress the importance of this order, which was urgent and had to be accorded priority.

The following conversation ensued:-

John Ho:        Look here, See Seng.  I am fed up with the current situation in Tyre Production.   We cannot meet the Middle East orders fully at this rate.  What has become of your men this month and in May? Complaints about poor performance and sidewall patching are increasing.  Rejects are mounting up and suppliers are screaming their heads off because of the high replacement scheduling.  This simply cannot go on.  What has come over you union guys?  It is not like you boys.

Tan See Seng:        Sure you can complain.  The boys are unhappy – they have been harping constantly on the poor food and uniform supply since we signed the Collective Agreement in December last year.  We have repeatedly brought this to the attention of the canteen supervisor.  But who cares?  Nobody bothers about us, but you people in management are so worried about production, production, production!

John Ho:        I don’t care a damn!  That is a canteen problem.  What has to do with my production quotas not being met?  I want good tyres for the Abu Dhabi order that came three months ago.  Last week special order came from the Defence Ministry, as you know.  At this rate, we will be losing all our export and local opportunities.  We will have to close down, if you don’t look out.  We cannot have idling machines and poor productivity.  Otherwise you chaps will have to look for new jobs!

Tan See Seng:        Don’t jump at me. I, too, work here like you, John HO.  Take the problem of rotten fish and rotten meat for example.  It is very serious.

John Ho:        Cut it out!  This canteen trash!  I don’t care a damn about your rotten fish and poor uniform supply.  Take those bloody problems to the stupid department concerned.  I want my tyres and that is as simple as that.  I damn well will make sure my tyres are made to specifications.  If you cannot meet my quota, then you can all quit.  I will replace you with workers who can produce.  You are the best chaps in the industry.  You are causing ripples now.  Why the hell can’t you get the men to see some sense, instead of stupidly listening to some union outsider?  I’ll chuck those idling idiots if they cannot produce.

Tan See Seng:        Stop, John Ho!  I have had an earful of your ravings.  I will not listen to any more of your sermons.  You cannot talk down to me like that!  I did not come to your office to be shouted at like a dog.  I can use foul language too, you know.  If you like, I will get Nasir, the Union National Secretary to talk to you.  Then you will learn to hold your tongue.  Just because I am an employee here does not give you the right to be downright rude!  Whether the problem is Production’s or Personnel’s, I am not concerned!  You Company guys can sort it out.  Get us good food and uniforms and we will give you good tyres.  Until then, don’t ever call me again, Abu Dhabi, Defence Ministry or not!

Tan See Seng stormed out of the office leaving John Ho, the Production Manager, livid with anger and open-mouthed at this unexpected flare up and the defiant manner in which his operator had reacted.

John Ho headed for Personnel Department to look for Mr Ferns, the Industrial Relations Manager.  He pushed open the swing door and marched up to the surprised manager.

John Ho:        Hey, Ferns!  What the hell is going on?  If your personnel people cannot manage your canteen and uniform problems, why affect my production?  My pressure is at boiling-point, I cannot tolerate this nonsense further.  I am going up to see McKintosh.  If you cannot do anything, let me see if some of the tin-Gods on the top can do something.  Some people need to be chucked out!

Ferns:        Come now, John.  Cool down.  What is this all about? Who are to be chucked out?  It is not that simple, you know.  Tell me what is it that is making you so angry.

        Here, have a cigarette.  Calm down and let us discuss this like adults.

        (At this point, the Personnel Director, Tim Mathews came into the room)

Mathews:        You are just the people I want to see.  The MD has received an anonymous letter calling management all sorts of names.  I think the letter stated something about rotten fish and old chicken being served.  What is this about uniforms?  We agreed to 3 sets and they are calling us ‘liars’ for having given only 2 sets so far.  Let us have a meeting this Saturday and arrange for the JCC (Joint Consultative Committee) to meet.  We cannot allow this to drag on.  See you at lunch.