SMRT bus drivers published grievances online before going on strike
For many years, excluding the 13th month bonus which you are only entitled to after working for a min. of 12 months, China Staff salary have been a lot lower than staff from other countries. The last increment of $50 SGD was still considered reasonable but at the same time, the company also increased the workload of the bus drivers by multiple fold. Everyday, the buses have to be inspected in perfect condition and it seems that instead of a pay increment, they are using the extra $50 as an excuse to increase workload that is worth a lot more than the $50 SGD. This is exactly like the behaviour of a boss for a small store and not of a big company/organization.
Although, there is an increment of Salary beginning from Nov 23rd to make up for the extension of official working days from 5 to 6 working days but however, the China staffs are once again excluded from this increment and this extension is “forced” on them with no advance notification or additional information provided. Why are only China Staffs excluded from this increment? The earlier promises that were made to the China Staffs have been forgotten and we are now only seen as Staff from China but not a part of SMRT. Even if SMRT have forgotten the promises made but there is still the contract we signed, why is this extension of an additional working day enforced mid-way into our contract? We are also a part of SMRT staff who are servicing the Singapore public every day.
Furthermore, we are all grouped into a room with 10 over people and are not living together with people who are working the same morning/night working shifts, hence we are always not able to have a good rest with people always going in and out of the room. Without proper rest, this will not only affect our health but also public safety.
You have high expectations of us with ‘0′ accidents and to be the provider of excellent service but with such living conditions and salary, such expectations are only a fairy tale and not realistic at all!
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 on Tuesday.
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.
SMRT also revealed in a statement that the no—show was triggered by unhappiness over a recent salary increment given by the company.
Talks began at about 4pm and lasted for approximately two hours.
SMRT had offered to bring the workers to a bigger meeting room for negotiations. The workers however refused to leave the dormitory.
About 50 bus drivers were involved in the talks.
SMRT in its statement said that it "regrets that (the drivers) chose to express their unhappiness about their salaries by not reporting to work today".
The company also apologised to commuters who were inconvenienced by the affected bus services.
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.
SMRT has issued the following statement after 102 of their bus drivers did not show up for work
This morning, 102 of our Service Leaders (SLs) for our buses who were recruited from China (PRC) did not show up for work. As a result of their absence, a number of our bus services were affected. We apologise to commuters and the public who were inconvenienced by the affected bus services.
In recent salary adjustments for our SLs, SMRT gave salary increment to all SLs who joined the company before July 2012. These 102 PRC SLs were not happy with their increment. We regret that they chose to express their unhappiness about their salaries in this manner, especially when our lines of communication with them are always open.
Talks between our management and the SLs started this morning and ended this evening at about 6 pm. This group of PRC SLs will be returning to work tomorrow.
We thank Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Home Affairs for their assistance in this matter.
Once again, we apologise to commuters and the public for the inconvenience caused.
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