The Executive Council of the Sarawak Bank Employees' Union has great pleasure in presenting our report to the 17th Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) to be held on 25th September 2011 in Bintulu.  This report covers the period from August 2008 until August 2011 and incorporates the Audited Statement of Accounts for the 3 year period ending 31 march 2011 of both the General Funds and SBEU Benevolent Fund.

45th ANNIVERSARY

SBEU is celebrating our 45th Anniversary in 2011, being first established on 22 September 1966.  The statewide Celebrations kicked off with a Dinner & Dance on 31st December 2010 in kuching attended by 1000 members, family and friends, followed by 400, Charity and Environmental Day activities in Bintulu in September in conjunction with the TDC and grand finale 45th Anniversary Dinner on 31st December 2011 in Miri.  The Celebrations provide an opportunity for SBEU to reflect on its achievements during the past 45 years and to prepare ourselves to face the ongoing challenges facing our union and out members.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

SBEU singed the 2009 to 2011 collective Agreement with the Sarawak Commercials Banks Associations in March 2010.  The Agreement provides for a 9% salary increase, extension of Childcare Allowance to male employees plus some minor improvements.

However a major dispute arose when SCBA refused to honour a written of agreement to extended similar higher benefits that it had granted to employees in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah to employees in Sarawak.  The dispute was referred to the Court after SBEU members throughout Sarawak staged a 2 day statewide picket.

The disrespect of a written agreement has left a very bitter taste in our dealing with SCBA and has diminished our trust and respect for SCBA.  SCBA even threatened to withdraw check off facility when we exercised our legitimate right to picket.  We are all the more letdown because we have invested so much good will in working with the banks to implement and develop performance related pay. We also concluded CA with Ambank and with HSBC for the Customer Service Bankers.

GOING FORWARD

The future is very challenging for unions in the Banking industry.  Yet SBEU is positive that there are opportunities.  We must adapt and change; and we must be allowed by the authorities.  While we ear ourselves to meet the challenges of the future, we must not forget our past 45 years.  We must do what we are set up to do; to ensure that bank employees get good pay and other benefits for their labour, to be employed in meaningful jobs and to see that our workplace are sage and congenial.

These are the tasks that SBEU officials and members, with hard work, vision dedication and professionalism of officials plus the solidarity and support of all members, will succeed in achieving.