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WHY SBEU?

Unions exist to protect people at work.

Even in the best run workplaces, problems and issues arise. The ongoing Bank mergers, Finance Sector restructuring, downsizing are putting tremendous pressure on working conditions and job security of bank employees.

So you need someone to turn to, someone you can depend on, someone who knows about legal rights, who can take up individual cases or speak on behalf of all workers, someone who has the backing of a national and international organization.

SBEU, is the largest private sector Union in Sarawak with 3,000 members. We are affiliated to MTUC with more than 700,000 members and also to Union Network International which has 22 million members worldwide. We currently represent employees in all Banks and we are now actively seeking to represent in all Financial Institutions in Sarawak.

You have a legal right to join SBEU and to take part in our activities. Our records also showed that active union members and officials have been promoted to higher grades because they consistently showed that they possess superior leadership qualities and analytical skills. Employers granted leave to allow members to attend trade union course.

SBEU tackles MYTHS about Unions.

`Won't the law protect me at work?'

To some extent yes. People at work did have legal rights, won by trade unions campaigning down the years - protection against unfair dismissal and sex and race discrimination, health and safety protection. However in Sarawak the Sarawak Labour Ordinance does not even covers clerical workers like you. Without the SBEU you do not even have rights to annual leave, overtime payment, sick leave and maternity leave.

And even where you've got rights, who else but SBEU can you turn to to get them enforced?

'If I am active in union activities, my boss will blacklist me'

On the contrary, our records showed that most of our active union officials have since been promoted, because union officials and active members have consistently showed that they possess superior leadership qualities and analytical skills. (Our training programmes in fact have been adopted by some banks even.

'If I join a union then the boss will probably sack me'

You have a legal right to belong to a trade union and to take part in trade union activities. It is illegal for your employer to sack you for joining a union. Once you and your colleagues become union members, your union can take action to stop this kind of victimisation.

'My employer says I don't need to join a union, the firm will look after me'

That's what a lot of employers say. They also say that the firm is a friendly place to work in; that you are a name and not a number and the manager is almost one of you. But even the best bosses get it wrong from time to time. And the worst don't even try.

Every day somebody at work believes they've been treated badly, disciplined unfairly or they are sick to the back teeth with complaining about a problem which nobody seems to do anything about. In many cases the law doesn't help at all (even if you know your rights), and on your own you are - well, on your own!.

In SBEU, the largest private sector union in Sarawak 3000 of us are behind you, plus more than 720,000 members of Malaysian Trade Union Congress in Malaysia and 16 million members of UNI from more than 100 countries all over the world. We currently represent members in 15 Banks and 8 Finance Companies in more than 180 offices throughout Sarawak.

Your wages may be low. Recent evidence shows that non-union members are getting as much as 10 per cent less pay than union members.

Your hours of work may not be clearly defined; you may not get overtime payments, or proper holiday entitlements.

Your working conditions may be bad; you may be exposed to health and safety hazards - for example, toxic fumes or unguarded machinery; there may be poor washing and toilet facilities and inadequate fire precautions.

And what do you do if you are threatened with the sack

'What else will SBEU do for me?'

Negotiate with your boss about pay, hours of work, and holidays; about the way that wages are paid, about allowances, extra payments and about retirement arrangements.

• Represent you if you have difficulty with your employer.
• Negotiate to protect you if you are under threat of redundancy or lay-off.
• Group Insurance Scheme.
• Motor Insurance Scheme
• Free Personal Accident Insurance Cover.
• SBEU Benevolent Fund provides emergency and scholarship benefits.
• Recreational Facilities.
• Discount Schemes.

As a member you may also be entitled to other benefits, such as legal advice and representation, a range of benefits and other services, and opportunities to attend union education courses.