Brigadier General and Acting Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said it took a whole day for the Government to call the protest a strike because, "The labelling of industrial action such as this is not trivial.. it would then open up a series of actions that would follow thereafter." Right, a post on the Tianya forum reminded the military men that China successfully landed a jet on their new aircraft carrier Liaoning, "That is why we need to build more aircraft carriers and send them to Singapore's footsteps." But what must really get Tan's knickers in a twist was the Chinese Embassy calling on his Ministry of Manpower to safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese workers according to local laws. (China News Service (CNS) said the embassy was monitoring the situation closely and had sent officials to take part in the mediation).
Rights and interests of workers that even Singaporeans are not aware of. Like, strikes are legal if rules are followed as stipulated in the Trade Unions Act and Trade Disputes Act. Workers can go on strike, but they must follow rules such as giving their employer 14 days of notice. Rules which are rubbished for "essential services such as transport and postal services" by the tougher provisions of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act. We know what happened in 2002 when Singapore Airlines pilots planned their strike. Brass knuckles were brought out in a hurry.
Ignoring the query that SMRT management may have fallen short - them generals sure know how to cover each other's backside - Tan still refused to call a spade a spade, saying it would be "inappropriate at this stage for us to make any definitive proclamations(sic) either way." So when would be an appropriate time, when the strike force from Liaoning is on the way?
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| Gerrymander this: J-15 landing on the Liaoning |
Posts
maybe not strike force from Liaoning?
ReplyDeletemaybe it's Liaoning liberation forces?
since sinkies are too chicken shit?
This sorry episode reveals the egregious power structure in the country.Everyone waits for the big boss to indicate his position. Then one by one they come out with their daringdo.The first official statment that it is an illegal strike is followed by the laughable report in Today that the NTUC iS "putting its weight behind the government".BG Tan`s professed circumspection is immediately contradicted by his declaration that the drivers`s actions "have clearly crossed the line".
ReplyDeleteNTUC putting its weight behind the government?! What kind of union is this?? National traitors union cowards? No thank u cb.
DeleteLim Sia Sway oppa kiam gan style.
DeleteOr is it NTUC hide behind gahmen skirts?
DeleteIf the NTUC don't put its weight behind the government, why is the government paying Lim Swee Say millions, to cut ribbons? like Tony Tan?? But the bigger question is why are Singaporean workers paying $9 every month to the union that don't have even plastic dentures (teeth were lost altogether when it was castrated?), that trampled their rights?
DeleteSorry Long still in auto pilot mode. His generals scrambling to ask him, how sir? To jail or not jail? Either ways, his balls are both squeezed. Left ball by sgreans; right ball by China. This is great.
ReplyDeleteDaddy! Daddy! How ah?
DeleteThat must be so.
DeleteMore than 24 hours for the legal eagles from MOL, MOM, LTA, SMRT and MFA to agree on the "best course" of actions.
Wonder if the Chinese Embassy officials part was a desperate, last ditch attempt by the Chinese Govt after waiting for official action by our "Coverment" or not.
Someone said foreign talent allows Singapore to punch above its weight. But he was wrong again. What Singapore got was a black eye instead. We should not be hoping for a K.O. soon.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, it was 171 who staged a sit-in. CNA just had this update from SMRT, no less.
ReplyDeleteThis same CNA report also seems to imply that there could be some still holding out. Hard to comprehen Singapore New English nowadays, you must pardon me.
They (georgie boy and the MFA and Home team) wouldn't even dare to stop a roumanian road killer at the immigartion check point after pinpointing his crime, or even charge an RBS "top talent" overpaid forex trader for smashing a taitai's windscreen, or a french gym instructor who punched an old man for not giving way on the road, or another mad frog eater for assailing his neighbours' contractors sacked by Barclays, you think pinkie will risk a diplomatic incident with the (ex-Varyg) Liaoning owners? So who is deterred by your billion dollar fancy gear F15, all those sophisticated radars and israeli UAVs and stealth ships? Generals who turn pussy cats, elites who only turn on its own people who pay taxes, Ft spokesman who suddenly shy from the media and all wish they were David Copperfields? Sad elites, bunch of unprincipled whimps.
ReplyDeleteMr Anonymous, why don't you identify yourself then?
DeleteTalking about taxes.. they just raised the property taxes again.
DeleteAnd school bus charges are raised by 10 to 15%.
DeleteWill public transport fares take a ride on the increases and be raised base on the same reason quoted for school buses?
patriot
Fares will be raised on the excuse that costs have gone up because of the concessions demanded by the PRC drivers. They never tell you that Temasek needs record profitability from TLCs to cover Temasek's shortfalls.
DeleteIt is just not right to pay worker different rate doing the same work just because they are from different countries.
ReplyDeleteThe Government of the PRC must not let Its' Citizen be exploited and bullied. Period.
patriot
I think we have to factor in transport and accommodation costs into the total renumerations. And also in terms of seniority- the number of years working for the company.
DeleteThis is a red herring argument. Those should be factored in the basic pay; now they are disputing the pay increment. The bigger issue is that low wage workers are treated as slaves in sg and MOM is a co conspirator by closing a blind eye allowing companies to exploit everyone. Sgrean who cant see this is stupid.
DeleteNo, they demanding to be paid same as Malaysian drivers, without taking into considerations the transport and accommodation. It is not even an apple to apple comparision.
DeleteNope, that is the view of only one driver. Please read again, I quote:
Delete"'We work the same number of hours (as Malaysian drivers), we should receive the same remuneration,' said one driver in his 30s, who declined to be named. 'We don't expect to earn the same as Singaporean drivers, but all foreign drivers should earn the same pay.'
According to the drivers, Malaysian bus captains received larger pay increments and bonuses, while their increments were smaller, and they did not receive any bonuses."
The lower paragraph is the crux of the issue here. Learn to read please.
daft Sinkies, do not be mislead in this illegal strike: let the chinamen solve with our govt and please do not involve the innocent Malaysian or Singaporeans bus drivers!
DeleteWe have to understand that as contract staff as the PRC drivers are, they are not entitled to exactly same benefits incl. bonuses, as permanent staff( S'pore and Malaysian drivers), even though they are essentially doing the same thing.
DeleteThat is the way it is . Most employers are the same as SMRT, trying to squeeze all there is to squeeze.As a contract staff myself, I dont expect contiuity in employment, nor extra bonuses over and above what is written in my employment contract.
The PAP Internet Brigade really believe that Singaporeans are daft. Please try harder! Maybe then you will be converted from your present status as contract worker to a permanent sinecure in the PMO as someone without portfolio?
DeleteThis strike fiasco is good. It exposed the govt incompetence of mass import of migrant workers at the expense of social instability. Now that the MInister has declared it's an illegal strike. Ppl are watching if those PRCs will be arrested and charged in court. If they do that, China won't keep quiet. The repercussions are dire. Might even affect diplomatic ties! Our MIWs having a big headache now. Note that Transport Minister and Zoro MIIA?
ReplyDeleteHahaa.. Lim Sia Sway still rehearsing his oppa oppa... joining Psy at MBS this weekend.
DeleteThe ring leaders and most of the remaining 88 strikers will certainly be charged.Most probably a token 1 day jail and a small fine. They will certainly be deported.Otherwise they will never be able to run Singapore like they used to, again.
DeletePAP is now caught between a rock and a hard place. It can't win either way. This is what happens when you have third world practices in a "first" world country.
Delete"Sir! Permission to think, Sir!" - LOL
The PRC's bus drivers have a lesson to teach Singaporeans - you should not accept getting paid lower than someone who has the same job scope as you.
ReplyDeleteThe culture of paying differently for different groups of people doing the same job originated from the government. For decades, the government has been paying different salary scale for scholar and non-scholar, despite both doing the same job. The inequality in remuneration serves to nurture and reward an elite class that is pro-PAP and its policies, which incidentally are also in their favour. While civil servants may have accepted it as a norm, it is still an unjust scheme from a meritocratic point of view and which the PRC's bus drivers havevalso discovered.
It is quite unfortunate that it has to be foreigners who dare to tell the world that Singapore has a very unjust way of paying its people. The PAP's grand scheme of keeping itself in perpetual power has corrupted the very meritocratic values that it pretends to fight for.
They up Singaporean bus drivers pay only to buy votes lah.. and paid by taxpayers too. 1.2 billion.
DeleteMeritocracy has nothing to do with performance on the job. You have merit if you have the right genes. Did Hoching lose billions to keep her job?
Deletewhat's your point?
ReplyDeletePork Barrel politics?
DeleteBuying votes?
Why every time bad things happened, generals are involved? Incompetent or bad luck?
ReplyDeleteThis is the quality, the result when everything is simulated. 5 star General, paid 6 figure salary?
ReplyDeleteCan get 1 star from Vietnam for half price who has at least seen and participated in actual combat. On top of that, wear slippers and T shirt only, without helmet and SBO. AND win the war too.
Agree. Paper Generals commanding $m is only good to manage troops in the army. They don't complain because they are counting the days when they are free from NS. Loon is the word. This may have made our Generals think they are invincible. Give command and all follows. Shit man, this don't work in biz world.
DeleteWhen a strike is illegal, it is called a strike. So what do you call a strike that is legal? A stroke? Uniquely Singapore. What can be clearer than the following definition?
ReplyDeleteStrike: refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer (Oxford Dictionary)
What stroke of geniuses
DeleteHope the PRC can kick some asses of the PIP and make them look like a piece of s***. PIP deserves a lesson in treating humans as humans not animals.
ReplyDeletePAP Minister insist must follow law.
ReplyDeleteRemember all along for so many years, the law says we all can withdraw all our CPF savings when we reach 55 years old. Then they change the law without consulting us.
WTF, how can PAP just change the law like that and remove our right to use our own savings for whatever purpose we deem fit without the least decency to seek our agreement.
Now they talk about law again. But they chose to keep silent or act blur about the discrimination part. They still think they can bully like what the old man did in the past using the law again.
WTF, PAP.
"WTF, how can PAP just change the law like that ..."
DeleteBecause we voted for them.
They can do anything they want in parliament.
Including giving themselves million dollar salaries.
yah!.. we have been f__king ourselves the last 40 years.. doesn't it feel so good??
DeleteLets do it again and again man! 2016 is our next renewal date.. vote for another 4 years of self immolation...ooohhh! can't wait!
As long as they have 75%, they can change anything. Get it?
DeleteLets not focus on the penalty, punishment, charges, strike or no strike.
ReplyDeleteIts the philosophy behind the reasons for pay increments etc. A contract worker or one that is hired for a specific period of time who does exactly the same duty should be paid a bonus too.
His contribution is the same. He is also subjected to same KPI. To maintain service standards the incentive must be equal.
But I strongly believe that not all types of work should be contracted.
Employers and HR practitioners should review the concepts and embrace an equitable approach. It is a dangerous path that they have adopted. We cannot employ archaic tools in a 22nd century economy.
Power to Labour!
patriot fully concurs with this comment.
DeleteSingaporeans and all workers must not allow employer and government to manipulate and exploit them.
Workers too must be responsible and dedicated to their works.
patriot
Employer = government = union ?
DeleteSame, same.
Like to say many employment contracts are schemes to exploit workers. Much of the employment before the 80s were full time employment and that was time when jobs were hard to come. The people then did easily survive and reproduce like hamsters because there were plenty of domestic and primary industries. Essential items such as water and medical were either free or at very low cost much liked a token.
DeleteSince the 90s, lots of companies resort to employ staff on contract to save expenditure to make more money. This contract employment invariably gets the workers disadvantaged and exploited. Many even cheated of fair remunerations, welfares and benefits.
patriot
So if the enemies are invading SinCity, will BG says that they are actually touring the city ?
ReplyDeleteIf "enemies" invaded Singapore,
Deleteit's just a case of replacing one enemy of the Singapore people with a new enemy of the Singapore people ... ?
If history is anything to go by;
DeleteThey will go with the flow,
And roll out the red carpet .....
Anything as long as they are allowed to continue to rule over the Sinkies ....
National Service is like NatCON
Got Wayang?
Invade Singapore?
DeleteLOL
Is there a need to when anyone calling himself a talent is invited in and offered citizenship?
No one dared to call it a strike because there hasn't been one since the 80's. So no one wants to be the first to call this a strike. Bad for reputation.
ReplyDeleteNice explanation about this topic and i am new guy to this job so this information is really great for me.
ReplyDelete