SMRT

Difference in pay - could be due to accomodation costs

Chinese workers stay in hostel. The bed and boarding $ is paid for by SMRT. Malaysian drivers drive motorcycle everyday. So SMRT factor in the housing cost in the pay of chinese drivers.

In China, the workers are given FREE accomodation and even food provided in the canteens.

If the monthly pay difference is > $250 per driver, I will be surprised because they are staying in a hostel in woodlands area.

So it is all about $.

The news is already all about in China news website. "Good" publicity for Singapore companies...

(27-11-2012, 02:13 PM)gutman Wrote: I think our Government has to really look at this issue seriously and take firm action on this. If this is not handled properly, it could be just the start of a series of new "social problem" associated with FT. Such actions affects the way of life of ordinary citizen/resident. And if they escalate to a bigger scale, I cannot imagine what it will be like, with strikes, oops, I meant "industrial actions" seen every now and then. Eventually we could see a whole transport system coming to a standstill, just like what we have seen in some of the Western countries.

I do not think we want to encourage such behavior in little peaceful Singapore.

Well, for those still debating the difference between a strike and "industrial action" (this from CNA):

As this has to do with an essential service - in this case, transport - the law is very specific on what is considered a strike.

Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This notice has to be signed by at least seven fellow workers involved in the strike or by at least seven union representatives of the workers.

The notice then needs to be acknowledged and signed by the employer, after which, that notice needs to be put up in at least three conspicuous places where the workers are employed.

That's a legal strike, if rules are followed.

> Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer
> at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This is a very intelligent act. If I want to strike, I will give element of surprise.

The person who created this rule... What kind of logic is this...

THE industrial dispute between public transport operator SMRT and its China-sourced bus drivers took a new turn on Tuesday when 60 of them continued to stay away from work.

SMRT confirmed that 60 drivers did not show up for work, "some of whom have valid medical reasons".

Police deployed officers to SMRT's rented dormitory for drivers in Woodlands in the morning. A police spokesman said its men were there to observe the situation; and that no one has been arrested.

He said the number of policemen on the ground is fewer than the 45 deployed on Monday, when 102 mainland Chinese drivers staged a sit-in at the Woodlands dormitory.

(27-11-2012, 05:07 PM)Contrarian Wrote: > Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer
> at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This is a very intelligent act. If I want to strike, I will give element of surprise.

The person who created this rule... What kind of logic is this...

You have to remember how LKY came into power. 水可载舟， 亦可翻舟

(27-11-2012, 05:07 PM)Contrarian Wrote: > Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer
> at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This is a very intelligent act. If I want to strike, I will give element of surprise.

The person who created this rule... What kind of logic is this...

Ya lol! i have already said whether it's an industry dispute or illegal strike it's not up to you to decide. But only if three of Singaporeans gathered to protest in the street and you can see what had happened in the past. Period. Stop. Wait and see lol????

TCJ said it's "illegal strike" liao!

"The SMRT bus drivers' action on Monday was an illegal strike and will be dealt with, says Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin"

I wonder if any of you remember in 2004 LHL visited Taiwan "privately" and china reacted angrily and they chastised singapore by freezing all further cooperation for many many months.

You look at weeks and months after the island grab japanese businesses not only kanna boycott or vandalized torched, Japanese exports stuck in chinese port customs for long periods it's almost also like freezing of ties.

Now china very assertive if china not happy for any reason you can expect some kind of fallout.

This "industrial dispute" is a tricky situation if not properly handled.

This is only the TIP OF THE ICEBERG, more to come. Akan datang.
The PRCs are slapping the one who are spoiling them. They give them too much face but now .....

> You have to remember how LKY came into power. 水可载舟， 亦可翻舟

Fair point. Try and use this rule now...

Whole ruling party will suffer a bigger fate...