RELATED: BREAKING: 200 SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage dispute this morning
Riot police called in for bus drivers strike
Police, and their riot trucks, were called in to control a strike staged by some 102 bus drivers earlier today.
The drivers from SMRT did not go to work on Monday morning, but staged a strike at their dormitory in Woodlands instead.
According to Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News, the drivers, who are all Chinese nationals were not happy about a recent pay increase Malaysian drivers had received.
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The Malaysian drivers reportedly got a $275 increment and a month's bonus, while Chinese nationals were paid $75 extra without any bonus.
The Straits Times reported that a SMRT human resource executive tried to resolve the issue but to no avail.
Riot police were then called in.
A spokesperson from SMRT said the company will release a statement later this evening.
SMRT bus drivers who refused to go to work in talks with management
Public transport provider SMRT said that it is in talks with its bus drivers who refused to go to work on Monday.
A spokesman for SMRT said the 102 bus drivers involved were from China and their service leaders are currently in talks with SMRT management.
SMRT said earlier reports that nearly 200 bus drivers were involved were incorrect.
Channel NewsAsia understands 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 refused to leave work at 4am on 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 and talks began at about 4pm.
About 50 bus drivers are involved in the ongoing discussions.
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.
SMRT said that relevant authorities have already been informed about the situation and added that the company has been hiring bus drivers from China since 2008.
National Transport Workers' Union responds to SMRT bus drivers dispute
The National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) have issued the following statement in response to today's SMRT bus drivers' dispute:
The National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) does not have the legal mandate to represent the PRC bus workers of SMRT as they are not union members. We urge these workers to return to work immediately as public transport is an essential service for the members of the public. They should approach the Ministry of Manpower or Migrant Workers Centre for assistance. We also urge the workers and management to work together to resolve their disagreement. NTWU is prepared to help in the discussions, if the two parties welcome the involvement of the union. We hope matters can be resolved as soon as possible so as to minimize impact on commuters and other SMRT workers who have to put in extra hours to cover the duties of those who do not show up for work.
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