Ho ho ho, smrt bus drivers go on strike

[An drew]

There was one in 86 sanctioned by the late Ong Teng Cheong.

This one real hero.

Ong Teng Cheong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In January 1986, Ong sanctioned a strike in the shipping industry, the first for about a decade in Singapore, believing it necessary as "[the] management were taking advantage of the workers". However, he did not inform the Cabinet beforehand, out of fear that the Cabinet would prevent him from going ahead with the strike. Ong recalled in a 2000 interview in Asiaweek: "Some of them were angry with me about that...the minister for trade and industry was very angry, his officers were upset. They had calls from America, asking what happened to Singapore?" [SUP][10][/SUP] Tony Tan, the minister for trade and industry, vigorously opposed Ong Teng Cheong's decision to sanction the strike, being concerned with investors' reactions to a perceived deterioration of labour relations or an impact on foreign direct investment needed for jobs creation. Ong Teng Cheong viewed the strike as a success: "I had the job to do..[the strike] only lasted two days. All the issues were settled. It showed the management was just trying to pull a fast one." According to Barr, Ong justified his commitment "in Confucian terms" in a "notion akin to noblesse oblige".[SUP][7][/SUP]

 

[kei1309]

This one real hero.

Ong Teng Cheong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In January 1986, Ong sanctioned a strike in the shipping industry, the first for about a decade in Singapore, believing it necessary as "[the] management were taking advantage of the workers". However, he did not inform the Cabinet beforehand, out of fear that the Cabinet would prevent him from going ahead with the strike. Ong recalled in a 2000 interview in Asiaweek: "Some of them were angry with me about that...the minister for trade and industry was very angry, his officers were upset. They had calls from America, asking what happened to Singapore?" [SUP][10][/SUP] Tony Tan, the minister for trade and industry, vigorously opposed Ong Teng Cheong's decision to sanction the strike, being concerned with investors' reactions to a perceived deterioration of labour relations or an impact on foreign direct investment needed for jobs creation. Ong Teng Cheong viewed the strike as a success: "I had the job to do..[the strike] only lasted two days. All the issues were settled. It showed the management was just trying to pull a fast one." According to Barr, Ong justified his commitment "in Confucian terms" in a "notion akin to noblesse oblige".[SUP][7][/SUP]

and people now are cursing the PRC drivers?

:bsmilie:

wow, how much has changed

:bsmilie:

 

[9V-Orion Images]

Reuters.com (U.S. Edition), Chinese Bus Drivers In Singapore In Rare Labour Protest
By Kevin Lim On 2012-11-26 T 18:23 +8

Yahoo! News Singapore, Over 100 Chinese Bus Drivers In Singapore Go On Strike
By Jeanette Tan On 2012-11-26 T 19:07 +8

 

[9V-Orion Images]

[video=youtube;PENJW4H2Saw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PENJW4H2Saw[/video]
YouTube Video ID No. PENJW4H2SAW

"We are cheaper, better, faster than Singaporeans, not to mention more humble and suffer more. We deserve better."

 

[allenleonhart]

There was one in 86 sanctioned by the late Ong Teng Cheong.

I said close to ... There are 2 I believe. One in 1978 also iirc...

 

[Skyways]

Now they demand to be on par with other foreigner, wait sometimes later, they will demand to be on par with The local, reason being, they r younger, have better attitude and more efficient than most of the local counterpart.
Slowly but surely they will

 

[Bukitimah]

A friend of mine once make reference to workers in Singapore with a married woman.

A young pretty lady got married at 20. She gave birth and becomes a home keeper. On top of that she ensure her husband business flourish. Then, 30 years later at 50 years old. Her husband finds that she is not attractive as she use to be. She is also not capable since he could employ the best maid and his children were all independent.

Now he found a young pretty mistress and thinks what to do with this wife. Maybe retrench her. Let her retrain and look for a new husband.

Luckily, there is a woman chapter here that entitle her to 50% of his asset. How come MOM didn't think of that!

 

[nitewalk]

and people now are cursing the PRC drivers?

:bsmilie:

wow, how much has changed

:bsmilie:

Difference being, this time round people are afraid they don't have bus to go to work. :bsmilie:

 

[Yutaka Go]

I feel that they are doing the same amount of work as the others. Therefore, they should deserve to get the same amount of pay.

I hope everyone who do the same work get the same pay so that employers will no longer have excuses to get cheap labor to force Singaporeans to accept low wages.

 

[ed9119]

they did not come here blind or forced

The pay is $1600 basic with no need to pay CPF ..... up to about $1800 to $2000 depending on overtime plus lodging

if not happy, go back home .... there will be others more than happy to replace

 

[Reportage]

they did not come here blind or forced

The pay is $1600 basic with no need to pay CPF ..... up to about $1800 to $2000 depending on overtime plus lodging

if not happy, go back home .... there will be others more than happy to replace

So how much were the malaysians getting?

 

[ed9119]

what does it matter what Malaysians getting? same? more?

Dont expect an employer to go PRC with the objective of "I am going China to hire drivers that cost more than Malaysian or Singapore drivers"

look at what is on YOUR table .... happy? take it... not happy? walk away or re-negotiate like civilized people

pay them what is owing, even buy them a plane ticket and send them back to a better life back home in PRC

 

[cks2k2]

I feel that they are doing the same amount of work as the others. Therefore, they should deserve to get the same amount of pay.

I hope everyone who do the same work get the same pay so that employers will no longer have excuses to get cheap labor to force Singaporeans to accept low wages.

what is the point of going to china to get drivers who cost the same as locals? makes no sense, no?

 

[spgohjc]

Working the same hours, environment etc does not make sense to be paid less. Any reason so? Because I come from a poorer country, you want to take advantage of me? Because you locals have a phd as a driver? because you locals have 4 eyes, i have 2? No. They should not only be paid the same as foreigner workers in fact in par with locals! Don't let them take you for a ride. Speak up now and be a sucker for 2 hours than be a sucker for life.

 

[Blur Shadow]

Working the same hours, environment etc does not make sense to be paid less. Any reason so? Because I come from a poorer country, you want to take advantage of me? Because you locals have a phd as a driver? because you locals have 4 eyes, i have 2? No. They should not only be paid the same as foreigner workers in fact in par with locals! Don't let them take you for a ride. Speak up now and be a sucker for 2 hours than be a sucker for life.

Because from an economics point of view, being cheap labor is the key selling point of the PRC drivers.

If more money can be earned here than in their homeland with all costs factored in, there should be utility gained and an incentive to come to Singapore to work.

Once here, it is probably natural to compare themselves against their peers, which is where the problem lies.

 

[ed9119]

Working the same hours, environment etc does not make sense to be paid less. Any reason so? Because I come from a poorer country, you want to take advantage of me? Because you locals have a phd as a driver? because you locals have 4 eyes, i have 2? No. They should not only be paid the same as foreigner workers in fact in par with locals! Don't let them take you for a ride. Speak up now and be a sucker for 2 hours than be a sucker for life.

Of course we want to take advantage of you because its a cost savings and locals with phd dont want to be driver .... I really doubt if employers hire FT for humanitarian reasons

We also welcome you to take advantage of living and working in our country

We get cheaper labor, you enjoy a better life compared to your home

Both side take advantage of one another but Everyone happy.

 

[Reportage]

what is the point of going to china to get drivers who cost the same as locals? makes no sense, no?

different labour laws that in the long term will save the company lots of $$$$? Any experts in labour laws here?

 

[Yutaka Go]

what is the point of going to china to get drivers who cost the same as locals? makes no sense, no?

The reason given by employers are because they cannot find enough local people to do the job.
Not because they want to find cheap labor.
If that is the case, they should be pay the same pay as local.

If the reason they give MOM is that they want cheap labor to reduce the operating cost so that they don't need to raise our fare.
Then that is another story.

They should also tell the cheap labor that they will not get the same amount as local before they came to Singapore so that they will not feel been cheated. But I don't think that is what they have been told.

Adopting fair employment practices is about recruiting and treating employees on the basis of merit, such as skills, experience or ability to perform the job. They shouldn't set double standard.

 

[Bukitimah]

This is the trouble we will be facing, whether it is maids, driver, construction workers, etc. As correctly pointed out, why would these people be away from their family to earn lesser than other doing the same work here?

Of course, skill sets, ability to interact, etc are things to consider when companies look for FT beside the $$$. I am sure they are on contract with specific terms and conditions clearly spell out. MOM are so used to obedient workers that they are quite loss when people reacts. This reaction actually is a good thing to tell employer that you can't draft your contract one way.

I thing that I cannot understand is how could company or individual employ foreigner without first declaring where they are going to house these people? Isn't that the most fundamental requirement? If you register 10 workers, you produce the address you are going to house them first. If the MOM checks and found they are not housed according to what you declare, fine them!

MOM only incharge of collecting levy? :thumbsd:

 

[cks2k2]

The reason given by employers are because they cannot find enough local people to do the job.
Not because they want to find cheap labor.
If that is the case, they should be pay the same pay as local.

If the reason they give MOM is that they want cheap labor to reduce the operating cost so that they don't need to raise our fare.
Then that is another story.

They should also tell the cheap labor that they will not get the same amount as local before they came to Singapore so that they will not feel been cheated. But I don't think that is what they have been told.

Adopting fair employment practices is about recruiting and treating employees on the basis of merit, such as skills, experience or ability to perform the job. They shouldn't set double standard.

I think they were told b4 signing-up about the work T&Cs. The issue from what I understand is they were not consulted when SMRT decided to switch from 5-day-workweek to 6-day-workweek at same pay. The drivers have lost quite a bit of income from loss of OT.

Anyway, if I can't find someone willing to drive bus locally and I can find someone else overseas who doesn't mind being paid less, why not?