Breaking News! 200 SMRT bus drivers went on strike!

[scroobal]

These are politically expedient terms similar to Malayan Emergency and the Northern Ireland troubles. Despite strike aircraft and full army formations used, for insurance reason, they were not called a war despite it raging on for years.

You can have the full SAF standing outside the Dorm and the authorities will still not call it a strike to avoid pushing i it into a legally challenging position. If it is called officially a strike the Police will have no choice but to make arrest. AG will then intervene if they do not want it to go to court. There have been many strikes in the past in places like Jurong but these never appeared in the papers. In this day and age, where camera phones and internet access is rife, they have no choice but make the news.

I can tell you that 95% of Singaporeans are not aware that you are committing an offence when you strike without notice or fail to follow procedures.

Can police SOC vehicles be mobilised for negotiations, and not a strike?

 

[zhihau]

I can tell you that 95% of Singaporeans are not aware that you are committing an offence when you strike without notice or fail to follow procedures.

bro,
any chance those ah tiongs notified their boss about their intention to discuss their pay matters? how come need to take MC one?

 

[Fishypie]

Wonder where are all the other forummers' take on this ?..over to you JW5 & rest of your company..

 

[kingrant]

Wonder why SMRT is always getting off on the wrong side of the bed. Why not SBS? They too have MRT breakdowns but nowhere as severe as SMRT. And now SMRT has this.

 

[neddy]

Another fine example of PRC crooks creating troubles here. If not happy, they can resign. Nobody is forcing them to work here. If they think they can get better pay elsewhere, then go!

PRC is right to teach ball-less Sinkees how to fight for their rights.
But Sinkees would rather resign and come to SBF to complain behind some anon posts.

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

PRC is right to teach ball-less Sinkees how to fight for their rights.
But Sinkees would rather resign and come to SBF to complain behind some anon posts.

hopefully the police whack the PRCs..........then thousands of PRCs go rioting..............

 

[kingrant]

If they find another Tan Liang Hong o Tan Wah Piow there, they will call it a strike and arrest them on the pretext. With PRCs the PAP is trying to handle the hot potato without blowing up into a transnational issue.

wonder what the Chinese blogs are saying, if anything.

These are politically expedient terms similar to Malayan Emergency and the Northern Ireland troubles. Despite strike aircraft and full army formations used, for insurance reason, they were not called a war despite it raging on for years.

You can have the full SAF standing outside the Dorm and the authorities will still not call it a strike to avoid pushing i it into a legally challenging position. If it is called officially a strike the Police will have no choice but to make arrest. AG will then intervene if they do not want it to go to court. There have been many strikes in the past in places like Jurong but these never appeared in the papers. In this day and age, where camera phones and internet access is rife, they have no choice but make the news.

I can tell you that 95% of Singaporeans are not aware that you are committing an offence when you strike without notice or fail to follow procedures.

 

[scroobal]

This is technically a strike or officially called Industrial Action. While negotiations are on, you must work, no if and buts. Besides official notification, there are steps including involving compulsory arbitration, notify minister, courts etc. It is easier to go thru a sex change operation then to launch a legal strike or industrial action.

Thats is why SIA pilots follow every step. The last one went to court and the court chided the Chief pilot on the management side for his insensitive comments.

bro,
any chance those ah tiongs notified their boss about their intention to discuss their pay matters? how come need to take MC one?

 

[kingrant]

Agree with Scroobal that it is technically a strike but the auths are avoiding to call it a strike so as they wont end up in a legal bind - with probable unpleasant results/effects. I wonder if that stupid moron Zorro Lim still has time to oppa at Orchid Country Club.

 

[scroobal]

Agree.

Lets put it this way - if Chee walked by the Dorm after taupau kopi and fried bee hoon for his morning breakfast, everyone will in the lock-up. Old man would dash to the cabinet room in his Nike trainers relishing the thought of his last intervention.

If they find another Tan Liang Hong o Tan Wah Piow there, they will call it a strike and arrest them on the pretext. With PRCs the PAP is trying to handle the hot potato without blowing up into a transnational issue.

wonder what the Chinese blogs are saying, if anything.

 

[mojito]

PRC is right to teach ball-less Sinkees how to fight for their rights.
But Sinkees would rather resign and come to SBF to complain behind some anon posts.

There have been talks in the past, even the white collared sinkies. Sinkies got what they wanted, then the powers that be ordered the Deluge. A pure coincidence in events of course.

 

[watchman8]

Agree.

Lets put it this way - if Chee walked by the Dorm after taupau kopi and fried bee hoon for his morning breakfast, everyone will in the lock-up. Old man would dash to the cabinet room in his Nike trainers relishing the thought of his last intervention.

Chee took a smrt bus this morning. Close enough to launch another ops cold storage:p

 

[GoldenDragon]

Agree with Scroobal that it is technically a strike but the auths are avoiding to call it a strike so as they wont end up in a legal bind - with probable unpleasant results/effects. I wonder if that stupid moron Zorro Lim still has time to oppa at Orchid Country Club.

Less room for manouvres once they classify it as a strike. Hands will be tied.

Zorro sure to cry. Another nail in his coffin.

 

[Confuseous]

SINGAPORE: Talks between SMRT management and its 102 bus drivers who refused to report for work on Monday have concluded.

According to workers Channel NewsAsia spoke to, SMRT management has indicated that the company will come back with a reply in approximately a week's time.

It is also understood that the 102 workers have agreed to return to work.

A spokesman for SMRT said the bus drivers involved were from China and that earlier reports saying nearly 200 bus drivers were involved were incorrect.

It is understood that the bus drivers had stayed away from work as a result of unhappiness over their pay.

According to residents living in the Woodlands dormitory where the bus drivers are staying, the drivers had refused to leave for work at 4am Monday when several SMRT buses arrived at the dormitory to pick them up.

Officials from SMRT headquarters have been at the dormitory since Monday morning. Talks began at about 4pm.

About 50 bus drivers were involved in the talks.

An SMRT spokesperson said that drivers who were not rostered to work on Monday were requested to work as a result of the no-show by the 102 drivers.

Separately, the National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) issued a statement that said the union could not represent the affected workers as they were not union members.

NTWU urged the workers involved to return to work immediately and added that the union was prepared to help in negotiations between SMRT management and the workers if both parties welcomed its involvement.

The Ministry of Manpower also said in a statement that it took the workers' actions very seriously and that it was looking into the matter.

Labour relations officers from the ministry were also on site at the Woodlands dormitory during negotiations.

SMRT said that relevant authorities have already been informed about the situation, adding that the company has been hiring bus drivers from China since 2008.

- CNA/jc

 

[mojito]

Zorro sure to cry. Another nail in his coffin.

Indeed. What good is it to be unionized under the NTWU if transient workforce is essentially getting the same perks and benefits as the 'locals'? (which is loosely defined as SG, SG PRs and Msians)

 

[Confuseous]

Agree with Scroobal that it is technically a strike but the auths are avoiding to call it a strike so as they wont end up in a legal bind - with probable unpleasant results/effects. I wonder if that stupid moron Zorro Lim still has time to oppa at Orchid Country Club.

And they can also announce to the world, hand on heart, that there are no strikes in Singapore and that labour, management and govt work hand in hand, heart with heart.

 

[scroobal]

Good to see the misunderstanding resolved. The air has been cleared. There was an obvious breakdown in language as the PRC Mandarin used differs from Singapore Mandarin. There was no refusal to work. As they were not union members, proper representation was not possible and no fault of them or the employer.

Singaporeans should act responsibly and not spread malicious rumours.

"CNA spoke to one Ryan Chang Wen Bao who is a PRC driver and part of the group who stood outside the Dorm at 4am. Ryan Chang said we were all ready to work and we were all wearing out uniforms. When the shift buses came to fetch us at 4am, my colleague asked the driver if he could relay a message to talk about our pay as we did not understand the new structure. Anyway I cannot speak more on this as we were told that this is confidential"

 

[laksaboy]

You want six million population, you want to artificially graft the Tiongs into the local SG Chinese population... this is what you'll inevitably get.

You've made a deal with the devil, now live with the consequences.

 

[laksaboy]

Indeed. What good is it to be unionized under the NTWU if transient workforce is essentially getting the same perks and benefits as the 'locals'? (which is loosely defined as SG, SG PRs and Msians)

In Singapore, you don't have much of a choice. Every trade union has been neutered and co-opted under Zorro Lim's abomination.

 

[mark.l]

Excellent rebuttal. I have added to your points.

See! Samleong or Leongsam or whateverTF he's called actually got a freaking brain! Congratulations!! You are slowly but surely confirming what some have suspected. You only act stupid.