KUALA LUMPUR – The government has rejected an appeal by National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) to allow its members who hold senior administrative government posts to continue to hold positions in the union.
In a directive dated August 5, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said the government has rejected NUTP’s application for special permission to allow NUTP office bearers who hold government administrative positions in Grade DG 42, 44, 48 and 52, to continue to hold union positions till the end of the 2020-2023 session.
Zuki cited a directive under Section 27(2)(f) of the Trade Union Act 1959 (Act 262), which addresses potential conflicts of interest.
Former NUTP secretary-general Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam opined that the decision should be complied with.
“The section clearly prohibits those in higher administrative positions from grades DG 42 and above, who hold positions such as principal, deputy principal, and posts in district, state and national education departments, from holding positions in the NUTP,” he told The Vibes.
There have been concerns by teachers that the 230,000-strong union is being “infiltrated” by administrators such as principals and education department officials who could undermine the struggles of ordinary teachers.
“As a former secretary-general for over 20 years, it saddens me to see the current situation at NUTP, which was formed in 1974 to fight for the rights of ordinary teachers.
“Leaders of the past worked hard to build the union to be the one true voice of teachers,” said Siva Subramaniam, who is also the former president of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services.
Meanwhile, former NUTP deputy president Jerome Fernandez said the union should be cognisant of the fact that the majority of classroom teachers (who are mostly members of the NUTP) are unhappy that the union is run by education administrators and principals.
“The classroom teachers feel these union officials do not feel the pulse of the problems faced by classroom teachers and are not suited to handle and resolve these issues,” he said.
However, Fernandez said, the decision should be also entrusted to the union members themselves to decide for themselves if an administrator being an office bearer would be good or bad for the union.
“For example, if the union elects an office bearer who happens to be a senior administrator, but who has the teachers’ welfare at heart, it could be a good thing, too,” said Fernandez, who was a principal when he held the position of NUTP deputy president.
Fernandez, along with Siva Subramaniam, was among the NUTP leadership that had campaigned for, among others, better wages and working conditions, including equitable treatment for male and female teachers; and less administrative work for teachers to allow them to focus on educating.
“Being education administrators and union officials at the same time could create conflicts of interest when handling issues, but it also offers these office bearers better access to officials to resolve issues,” he said.
Fernandez also cautioned that the government’s directive could be perceived as prohibiting freedom of association – which is in conflict with the International Labour Organisation’s non-interference policy.
Meanwhile, another ex-deputy president, Lim Cheng Uo, advised NUTP officials to comply with the directive.
“The Trade Union Act supersedes any local by-laws, etc. As a union, NUTP can negotiate if it wishes to; but in the meantime, the instruction needs to be followed.
“This is important as the whole premise is to act in the best interests of most members. In this case, it is the teachers,” he said. – The Vibes, December 14, 2021
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