Cuepacs To Boycott Two Govt Functions If Demands Not Met

SUNGKAI, April 2 (Bernama) -- The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) will boycott two events if the government fails to decide on its five demands by then.
The events are Labour Day celebrations organised by the Human Resources Ministry at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on May 3 and Public Sector Employees' Day assembly at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on May 29.
However, Cuepacs would hold a separate Labour Day celebration in Johor Baharu on May 1 which was expected to draw 1,000 union representatives nationwide, said its president, Omar Osman, after a meeting of Cuepacs Congress Council here Wednesday.
The five demands are a RM2,000 honorarium payment regardless of positions, housing allowance increase from RM180 to RM230, improvement in the Efficiency Level Assessment, reinstatement of critical allowances for support group II which was withdrawn in February, extension of the compulsory retirement age from 56 years to 60 years.
Omar said Cuepacs would reconsider its decision to boycott the events if the government was willing to negotiate the demands before May 29.
He said the move to boycott was not a threat but he admitted that it was drastic. Cuepacs had to make the heavy decision in the interest of all public sector employees, especially those in support group I and II, he added.
Omar said Cuepacs wanted the five demands to be implemented based strictly on the discussions between the congress and the government since August.
He said he was disappointed with the government's delay in making decisions and added that the government had failed in terms of its delivery system as it had failed to decide on the demands even though Cuepacs had asked for it over six months ago.
He said the Cuepacs Congress Council had also agreed to send an official letter to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to express regret over his reported "shyness" to discuss Cuepacs' request for the RM2,000 honorarium with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
He said Cuepacs would hold briefing sessions at all departments nationwide on the demands from next week.
Meanwhile, Omar advised all public sector employees in the states run by "Pakatan Rakyat" (People's Alliance) to work as usual and report to Cuepacs should there be any form of discrimination and injustices.
Cuepacs would meet union leaders in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor in June, he said.

tunku : when you have weak leader, everyone starts demanding and blackmailing.