Lawyers' unhappiness due of Travel perks, they fight because they are lawyers after all - to voice their unhappiness is their nature!
Straits Times News
THE stand-off between the Law Society and 88 members over the issue of business class travel for its top officials is over.
In a pact announced yesterday, the society agreed to freeze such travel until its annual general meeting (AGM) in October and a review of the issue.
In return, the group led by prominent lawyer Subhas Anandan called off an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) set for Friday next week to discuss a motion of no-confidence in the society's leadership.
The society will also call off a townhall meeting that was planned to precede the EGM.
The society made clear yesterday it was not rescinding business class travel but would hold off its use and review it after the AGM.
In the agreement between the two sides, Mr Anandan's group acknowledged, among other things, that the society's 21-member council led by its president Senior Counsel Wong Meng Meng is empowered to manage the society and its funds, and is responsible to its members as prescribed in the Legal Profession Act.
The group also agreed not to bring up any motion at the AGM on business class travel or other issues raised in the petition for the EGM.
But these issues could be discussed as part of the normal course of business during the AGM.
The dispute began after Mr Anandan's group voiced unhappiness over a move to allow the society's president and two vice-presidents to travel business class.
This was for trips of more than five hours while representing the society at official events overseas, and subject to approval by the council and executive committee.
Mr Wong said yesterday he was pleased with the agreement as an EGM would have involved one winner and one loser and things could get sour.
"But if you get a situation where both sides are winners, that paves the way for early unity. We want to go forward putting all these things behind us, for the benefit of the society, the profession and the community. Both sides worked hard for this," he said.
He added that there had been much concern that all the undue publicity over the spat would "frighten off" potential outside donors who wish to contribute to the Law Society's fund-raising, especially for pro bono work.
"It would be good if members treat this experience as something that will tell them they have to take a greater interest in the affairs of the society, speak out at the right time and let us know what is on their minds," he added.
The agreement revealed yesterday followed interventions and the urgings of several "elder statesmen" of the society, said Mr Wong, who did not name names.
"In the first round, a senior counsel tried to broker a deal but it didn't get going and failed very quickly," he said.
Then other well-meaning Law Society members offered to help, and that led to the deal.
Mr Anandan and Mr Wong met last Wednesday night. With most of the terms agreed upon beforehand, they bridged the remaining gaps and left it to the peacemaker to come up with a draft.
The next day, it was circulated to the society's council members and some lawyers from Mr Anandan's group.
A few changes were made after feedback was given, and by evening, the pact was ready.
It is believed that retired judge of appeal Thean Lip Ping and Senior Counsel Giam Chin Toon played key roles in brokering the deal.
Contacted last night, Mr Anandan said he was happy with the outcome. "Nobody wants to fight for nothing. Discontinuing the travel perk until the AGM was the core point that we wanted. We got what we wanted.
"It shows we are reasonable people," he added, noting that he had "no difficulty" asking those who had petitioned for the EGM to agree to withdraw it.
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In my humble opinion these rich lawyers should pay for their own comfort.
Straits Times News
THE stand-off between the Law Society and 88 members over the issue of business class travel for its top officials is over.
In a pact announced yesterday, the society agreed to freeze such travel until its annual general meeting (AGM) in October and a review of the issue.
In return, the group led by prominent lawyer Subhas Anandan called off an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) set for Friday next week to discuss a motion of no-confidence in the society's leadership.
The society will also call off a townhall meeting that was planned to precede the EGM.
The society made clear yesterday it was not rescinding business class travel but would hold off its use and review it after the AGM.
In the agreement between the two sides, Mr Anandan's group acknowledged, among other things, that the society's 21-member council led by its president Senior Counsel Wong Meng Meng is empowered to manage the society and its funds, and is responsible to its members as prescribed in the Legal Profession Act.
The group also agreed not to bring up any motion at the AGM on business class travel or other issues raised in the petition for the EGM.
But these issues could be discussed as part of the normal course of business during the AGM.
The dispute began after Mr Anandan's group voiced unhappiness over a move to allow the society's president and two vice-presidents to travel business class.
This was for trips of more than five hours while representing the society at official events overseas, and subject to approval by the council and executive committee.
Mr Wong said yesterday he was pleased with the agreement as an EGM would have involved one winner and one loser and things could get sour.
"But if you get a situation where both sides are winners, that paves the way for early unity. We want to go forward putting all these things behind us, for the benefit of the society, the profession and the community. Both sides worked hard for this," he said.
He added that there had been much concern that all the undue publicity over the spat would "frighten off" potential outside donors who wish to contribute to the Law Society's fund-raising, especially for pro bono work.
"It would be good if members treat this experience as something that will tell them they have to take a greater interest in the affairs of the society, speak out at the right time and let us know what is on their minds," he added.
The agreement revealed yesterday followed interventions and the urgings of several "elder statesmen" of the society, said Mr Wong, who did not name names.
"In the first round, a senior counsel tried to broker a deal but it didn't get going and failed very quickly," he said.
Then other well-meaning Law Society members offered to help, and that led to the deal.
Mr Anandan and Mr Wong met last Wednesday night. With most of the terms agreed upon beforehand, they bridged the remaining gaps and left it to the peacemaker to come up with a draft.
The next day, it was circulated to the society's council members and some lawyers from Mr Anandan's group.
A few changes were made after feedback was given, and by evening, the pact was ready.
It is believed that retired judge of appeal Thean Lip Ping and Senior Counsel Giam Chin Toon played key roles in brokering the deal.
Contacted last night, Mr Anandan said he was happy with the outcome. "Nobody wants to fight for nothing. Discontinuing the travel perk until the AGM was the core point that we wanted. We got what we wanted.
"It shows we are reasonable people," he added, noting that he had "no difficulty" asking those who had petitioned for the EGM to agree to withdraw it.
[email protected]
In my humble opinion these rich lawyers should pay for their own comfort.
