Picketing ..

Lunch time today was interesting. There was a unusually big crowd outside Menara Maybank. So, my lunch kakis and I went nearer to see what's the attraction.

A big bunch of folks picketing outside the Menara Maybank. They were singing songs, waving banners, shouting logo ... and doing all sorts of thing people do during peaceful demonstration. Tonnes of people gather around to take photo, too bad I didnt bring my handphone to take a pic.

The most glaring banner was a huge yellow colour banner screaming "Bank rompak kami" - translated into "The bank robbed us". I am guessing that the bank must be a bit stingy with their increment or bonus, and thus pissed off the staff.

So far, it was a peaceful demo. There were a bunch of police around observing.

There was only a small paragraph of news on The Star the next day

Tuesday September 25, 2007
Bank workers picket over wages
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) picketed peacefully outside Maybank branches nationwide to demand a pay rise.
Yesterday’s picket was the latest in a series of pickets by NUBE members in the past two weeks after the union failed to get banks to agree to increase wages.
NUBE is asking for a 30% increase but the Malaysian Commercial Banks Association, which represents bank managements’ interest nationwide wants to discontinue the two-month contractual bonus.
Following the deadlock, NUBE launched a work-to-rule procedure among the 25,000 clerical and non-clerical members.
NUBE general secretary J. Solomon said they would continue to picket.