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http://www.thesundaily.my/news/251528
Posted on 29 December 2011 - 05:41am KANG SIEW LI
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) unionised staff are unhappy over a potential plan by its management to downsize the workforce as part of the struggling national carrier’s turnaround plans. MAS Employees’ Union (Maseu) president Alias Aziz told SunBiz that MAS management had indicated its intention to reduce its workforce during a Dec 16 meeting chaired by MAS group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and his deputy Mohammed Rashdan Mohd Yusof, which was attended by representatives of Maseu, Malaysia Airlines Pilots’ Association, Airline Workers Union of Sarawak, Air Transport Workers Union of Sabah and MAS Executive Staff Association.
“However, the management did not say how many employees will be affected, although it was told that only 3,000 staff were needed for the airline’s short haul operations which include Firefly and the new yet-to-be-named regional premium carrier (that will be launched by mid-2012),” said Alias on Wednesday.
MAS also wants its employees to first resign from the airline if they opt to join the new regional airline. Right now, MAS has about 20,000 workers. theSun had reported on Dec 16, quoting sources, that about half of MAS’s total workforce will be affected by the airline’s business plan, which involves cutting money-losing routes, deploying new aircraft, managing costs and spinning off ancillary businesses. “We (union members) are not happy with the latest business plan for MAS. We are concern about the impact of cuts on MAS’s unprofitable routes, closing of some stations overseas and spinning off its subsidiaries which may inevitably lead to staff cuts.
“This is not the way to turnaround MAS,” said Alias. “This (possible job cuts) also goes against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had in a meeting with me (as Maseu president) in September gave an assurance that there would be no job cuts nor voluntary separation schemes (VSS) to follow the latest reshuffle at the airline,” he added.
Alias said the union members also disagree with the MAS-AirAsia share swap as they see AirAsia benefiting more from the deal, not MAS. When contacted on Wednesday, a MAS spokesman said any move to redeploy or cut its workforce is “still a work in progress and we will make announcements when details are finalised”.
“These are still in planning stages. We are now engaging staff through a series of meetings for them to understand our plans and hear their feedback and questions.
“We will engage all stakeholders including the media at the right time when we have the detailed information,” he said.
It is terrible to contemplate an Icon like MAS being given such as ultimatum. I sincerely hope they will be able to rise up again. MAS has to thank the good doctor Mahathir for manipulating the airline and enriching his cronies and screwing what could have been a successful business.:oIo:
Posted on 29 December 2011 - 05:41am KANG SIEW LI
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) unionised staff are unhappy over a potential plan by its management to downsize the workforce as part of the struggling national carrier’s turnaround plans. MAS Employees’ Union (Maseu) president Alias Aziz told SunBiz that MAS management had indicated its intention to reduce its workforce during a Dec 16 meeting chaired by MAS group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and his deputy Mohammed Rashdan Mohd Yusof, which was attended by representatives of Maseu, Malaysia Airlines Pilots’ Association, Airline Workers Union of Sarawak, Air Transport Workers Union of Sabah and MAS Executive Staff Association.
“However, the management did not say how many employees will be affected, although it was told that only 3,000 staff were needed for the airline’s short haul operations which include Firefly and the new yet-to-be-named regional premium carrier (that will be launched by mid-2012),” said Alias on Wednesday.
MAS also wants its employees to first resign from the airline if they opt to join the new regional airline. Right now, MAS has about 20,000 workers. theSun had reported on Dec 16, quoting sources, that about half of MAS’s total workforce will be affected by the airline’s business plan, which involves cutting money-losing routes, deploying new aircraft, managing costs and spinning off ancillary businesses. “We (union members) are not happy with the latest business plan for MAS. We are concern about the impact of cuts on MAS’s unprofitable routes, closing of some stations overseas and spinning off its subsidiaries which may inevitably lead to staff cuts.
“This is not the way to turnaround MAS,” said Alias. “This (possible job cuts) also goes against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had in a meeting with me (as Maseu president) in September gave an assurance that there would be no job cuts nor voluntary separation schemes (VSS) to follow the latest reshuffle at the airline,” he added.
Alias said the union members also disagree with the MAS-AirAsia share swap as they see AirAsia benefiting more from the deal, not MAS. When contacted on Wednesday, a MAS spokesman said any move to redeploy or cut its workforce is “still a work in progress and we will make announcements when details are finalised”.
“These are still in planning stages. We are now engaging staff through a series of meetings for them to understand our plans and hear their feedback and questions.
“We will engage all stakeholders including the media at the right time when we have the detailed information,” he said.
It is terrible to contemplate an Icon like MAS being given such as ultimatum. I sincerely hope they will be able to rise up again. MAS has to thank the good doctor Mahathir for manipulating the airline and enriching his cronies and screwing what could have been a successful business.:oIo:
