SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage Part 1
SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage Part 2
SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage Part 3
SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage Part 4
SMRT bus drivers from China on strike over wage Part 5
Singapore Strike Reflects Dual Strains
A rare protest over wages in Singapore by a group of bus drivers recruited from China has caused a public stir, highlighting the city-state's heavy reliance on migrant workers as tensions rise over the influx of foreign labor.
Industrial action is almost unheard of in Singapore, which has kept a tight leash on organized labor to attract foreign investors.
But on Monday, nearly 200 public bus drivers failed to show up for work, protesting what they called discriminatory pay practices by their employer, state-controlled transport operator SMRT Corp. Singapore law prohibits workers from going on unannounced strikes.
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| He Jun Ling |
Four SMRT bus drivers from China have just been charged in court for their role in the illegal strike at a worker's dormitory in Woodlands earlier this week.
He Jun Ling, 32, Gao Yue Qiang, 32, Liu Xiangying, 33, and Wang Xian Jie, 39, were arrested by the police between Wednesday and today.
They now face charges under Section 10(a) of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (Chapter 67), read with section 109 of the Penal Code (Chapter 224).
If found guilty, they can be fined up to $2,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both.
He Jun Ling is believed to be the leader. The Henan province native had identified himself as a spokesman for the drivers and spoken to reporters on Tuesday at the Woodlands dormitory, and was featured in a Straits Times report.
Court documents show that he had allegedly incited his Chinese colleagues by posting on http://tieba.baidu.com a message on Sunday titled "The insults and humiliation suffered by Singapore drivers".
According to court documents, the post contained the following statements in Chinese:
"But why don't we think of it the other way around, if a few hundred Chinese Nationals take the lead, I am afraid the management of SMRT will be fired instead, not that we do not know the traffic situation in Singapore, a few hundred bus drivers do not report to work for a few days there will be public outcry in Singapore, Lianhe Zaobao, MyPaper and the English papers will all wait on us, trying to find out the reason(s) for the action. Land Transport Authority will have to start questioning SMRT."
"Rational and hot-blooded fellow workers have to take action! Let's go on MC together tomorrow 26, Monday and 27, Tuesday. We have to depend on ourselves for our dignity and interest, MC (whether paid or not paid) is nothing when compared to your own interest, just tens of dollars isn't? When it comes to fighting for our dignity it is far more important than tens of dollars. Please relay the message to as many as possible, not afraid of traitor(s), Monday morning at the entrance to hostels at Ang Mo Kio and Woodlands please inform those who are not aware, insist not to board the company transport. Boycott and despise those who are not taking any action, they will suffer guilty conscience. It concerns the interest if everybody, everyone should take part."
Chinese embassy expresses concern about arrests of four SMRT bus drivers from China
The Chinese embassy here has said in a statement that it is concerned about the arrests of four SMRT bus drivers for their role in the illegal strike earlier in the week.
The consulate has expressed this to the Singapore authorities and has asked that arrangements be made for embassy officers to visit the four.
It also hopes that the legal rights of those arrested will be protected, that the matter be resolved in an appropriate manner, and that all parties remain calm.
MOM statement on SMRT bus drivers
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has issued the following statement in response to media queries on the SMRT bus drivers:
FOUR DRIVERS CHARGED IN COURT
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been updated that 4 bus drivers involved in the illegal SMRT strike on 26 - 27 November 2012 have been arrested and charged in Court this afternoon.
These drivers allegedly instigated their fellow employees to participate in the illegal strike which adversely impacted essential public transport services - commuters were affected, even as other bus drivers worked to help ensure the services continued to run even with the disruptions. The illegal strikes are not acceptable and have undermined the industrial harmony we have built over the years. These alleged instigators must be dealt with in accordance to our laws.
Investigations are still on-going and MOM will work closely with the Police on the matter.
MOM'S ACTIONS
LABOUR RELATIONS
Since Monday (26 Nov), MOM's labour relations officers have been in close contact with SMRT's HR and senior management. MOM's Deputy Commissioner for Labour, Mr Then Yee Thoong, and senior MOM 2 officers with the Labour Relations & Workplaces Division have also met up with SMRT's senior management.
SMRT has assured MOM that it has identified important lessons from this episode. MOM emphasised that SMRT, which provides essential public transport services in Singapore, must use these lessons to thoroughly review and improve its HR and management practices. In particular, SMRT should ensure their lines of communication with employees are kept open and proper grievance handling procedures are in place. SMRT should also clearly inform and educate employees about these processes. Employees who are unhappy or disgruntled should flag them through these processes, instead of taking matters into their own hands.
MOM reiterated to SMRT that the labour and contractual grievances raised by the workers should be a priority and addressed quickly. MOM also called on SMRT to work more closely with the union to resolve outstanding issues. At the same time, MOM urged SMRT to fully address its remedial actions, both on the housing and labour relations front.
HOUSING
The bus drivers had shared feedback about the living conditions at their dormitories (Woodlands Dormitory and Central Staff Apartments (Serangoon)). MOM's Housing Enforcement Branch officers visited the dormitories on Wednesday (28 Nov).
The number of occupants in all the SMRT dormitory rooms is kept within the allowed occupancy limit; they are not overcrowded.
Our officers found that bed bug problems were observed in some of the rooms occupied by the SMRT drivers. Occupants of each room are responsible for their own hygiene.
The general housekeeping conditions of the rooms occupied by the SMRT drivers were also below par, compared to the other rooms in the dormitories. A common feedback from SMRT bus drivers interviewed by MOM officers at the dormitories was that the current arrangement of room allocation, where drivers on different shifts resided in the same room, made it difficult for them to get a good rest.
MOM has shared the findings of the inspection with SMRT management on Thursday (29 Nov). SMRT has indicated it would improve the bus drivers' living conditions as soon as possible. Fumigation will be carried out at the dormitories and remedial works to improve the living conditions at the two dormitories. SMRT has also said it will provide alternative accommodation for the bus drivers upon expiry of the rental agreements with the private dormitory operators.
MOM will continue to monitor the housing situation.
SMRT holds first townhall with China drivers
SMRT has issued the following statement after management met with bus drivers from China at a townhall session today:
SMRT Management and staff met up with more than 130 of our Service Leaders (SLs) from China at two townhall sessions held this afternoon.
At the sessions, SMRT's Executive Vice President for Commercial and Roads Ms Teo Chew Hoon shared with our SLs from China various measures that are being implemented and plans to improve their well-being. On concerns raised regarding the SLs' living conditions at the dormitories (Woodlands, Serangoon and Tampines), immediate measures such as repairs to defects and remedial works on broken fittings are currently being made to affected rooms. Fumigation has been arranged to address complaints of bed bugs in some of the rooms.
SMRT will continue to work closely with the dormitory operators to ensure that the dormitories of our SLs are kept in good condition.
As a large number of our SLs from China have expressed their desire to move out from the dormitories, we will also be arranging alternative accommodation for them at various HDB flats/apartments located island-wide when the leases of their dormitories expire from early 2013.
To improve communications with our SLs from China, we have set up a 24-hour hotline and a team of liaison officers which they can call and approach if they have any queries or feedback pertaining to their work, living conditions, or even if they require assistance in any other matters.
SMRT is in the process of reviewing the concerns raised regarding the wages of our SLs from China following the discussion on 26 November and will share our decision with them next week.
Ms Teo Chew Hoon thanked all our SLs for their hard work on the roads each day and for their cooperation in continuing to work hard despite what has happened in the past three-days. Ms Teo also reiterated that SMRT continues to value SLs who put their best into their duties, and reassured that the lines of communication with them remains open, and that the company will continue to look into their concerns and welfare.
We have been informed by the Police this afternoon that four of our SLs from China have been arrested and charged in Court for their roles in the illegal strike.
SMRT will continue to ensure that our bus services continue to operate normally and have been mobilising our resources accordingly. There are also 45 bus drivers from SBS Transit and private operators on standby ready to be deployed to assist us.
SMRT and our SLs will continue to cooperate with the authorities and render all assistance to their on-going investigations.
SMRT sets up 24-hour feedback hotline for drivers
To improve communications with their employees from China, SMRT said today that they have set up a 24-hour hotline and a team of liaison officers whom they can call and approach if they have any queries or feedback pertaining to their work or living conditions.
They may even call the hotline if they require assistance in any other matters, SMRT said.
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