Drivers staying at dormitories in woodlands were joined by roughly 50 to 60 others housed at dormitories in serangoon from as. Over 100 smrt bus drivers from china went on a fullday strike on monday, protesting a disparity in salary between them and other foreign bus captains. To make up for the shortfall, she said drivers from sbs transit, as well as private bus operators, had been mobilised and put on standby. Smrt bus driver strike 2 years early, but still proven right today, local media reported on a strike by smrt bus drivers hired from mainland china. Smrt revamps pay and career path for bus drivers, top stories. On the actions taken against the smrt bus drivers involved in the illegal strike.
For better connectivity, peak hour bus service bp1 is now upgraded to a new fullday bus service 976. The protestors, who were all chinese nationals, were aggrieved at the disparity between their wages. A smrt bus driver from china has been sentenced to six weeks jail for taking part in an illegal strike. Image caption the strike involving drivers for statecontrolled smrt was the first major strike since 1986. Four former smrt bus drivers from china have received jail terms of between six and seven weeks for instigating an illegal strike last november that caused inconvenience to the public. It is estimated that the strike disrupted about 5% of the citystates bus services. I thought it may be interesting to try to do an analysis of the issue from a statistical perspective. Remarks by acting minister for manpower mr tan chuanjin. The strike was over on november 28 but left behind some damages for smrt which was scrutinized previously for several occasions of mrt service disruption. Jul 24, 2017 smrt has apologised to all affected passengers for the inconveniences they faced when the bus driver of bus 969 refused to drive after two young children below the age of 7 were forced to pay the. The chinese bus drivers complained about unequal pay and poor accommodations provided by the company. It was the first strike in singapore since the hydril strike in 1986.
Jul 26, 2017 the post even suggested that he went on strike an unkind reference perhaps to the 2012 illegal strike involving 171 bus drivers over a pay dispute. Four bus drivers have been jailed for up to seven weeks in singapore for organising the countrys first strike in nearly three decades. Smrt revamps pay and career path for bus drivers, top. The strike came about after a chinese bus driver wrote a post on chinese social media site baidu asking other chinese bus drivers to join him in a labour strike, a first in 26 years for singapore. Acting minister for manpower tan chuanjin called it an illegal strike saying that public transport services had been classed as essential services. Over 100 chinese bus drivers in spore go on strike. Government acts against instigators and key participants in. By midmorning, more drivers had travelled from another dormitory in serangoon to participate in the sitin. Singapores first strike in 25 years shines spotlight on racial tensions. Singapore jails bus drivers for inciting strikes bbc news. The post even suggested that he went on strike an unkind reference perhaps to the 2012 illegal strike involving 171 bus drivers over a pay dispute. Nov 04, 2012 this monday, 171 bus drivers went on strike to protest about their wage difference to malaysian drivers and living conditions in the dorms. Dec 01, 2012 in addition, 29 smrt bus drivers have been sternly warned by the police for participating in the strike. By taking matters into their own hands the drivers have clearly crossed the line, tan said, noting that strikes are illegal for essential services unless they give the employer 14 days of notice of the intent.
Nov 30, 2012 the workers party has been following with great concern the unfolding events surrounding the strike by smrt bus drivers on 2627 november 2012. This monday, 171 bus drivers went on strike to protest about their wage difference to malaysian drivers and living conditions in the dorms. In addition, 29 smrt bus drivers have been sternly warned by the police for participating in the strike. From jian weis account, its more likely that the driver merely stopped the bus temporarily in an attempt to resolve the issue. Govt moves against illegal strike by smrt bus drivers on. Singapore, former smrt bus driver he jun ling opens up to jeanette tan and peace chiu to share the story behind why and how more than 170 bus drivers ended up going on a twoday strike against. Like most things these days, it all began with a facebook post. The protestors, who were all chinese nationals, were aggrieved at the disparity between their wages and those of their malaysian counterparts.
A great deal has been written about the smrt drivers strike. Dec 03, 2012 image caption the strike involving drivers for statecontrolled smrt was the first major strike since 1986 singapore has jailed one chinese bus driver for six weeks and deported 29 others for. The authority decides to charge 4 smrt bus drivers for instigating an illegal strike involving an essential service. The smrt 2012 bus drivers strike apparently ended singapores quarter century record of industrial peace. As a result of the strike, some bus services were disrupted and commuters suffered inconveniences on our alreadycrowded public transport network. Govt moves against illegal strike by smrt bus drivers on 26. He was sentenced to seven weeks jail while gao, liu and wang were sentenced to six weeks jail.
Image caption the strike involving drivers for statecontrolled smrt was the first major strike since 1986 singapore has jailed one chinese bus. Former smrt bus drivers, he jun ling, gao yue qiang, liu xiangying, and wang xian jie, were sentenced to jail for participating in a strike against the transport operator in november 2012. The workers party has been following with great concern the unfolding events surrounding the strike by smrt bus drivers on 2627 november 2012. The national trades union congress ntuc says it supports the action taken by the government regarding the illegal strike of the smrts bus drivers read more at. The smrt bus driver strike is just one more domino to fall in a chain of events that is fast marking 2012 as an annus horibilis horrible year for smrt. He was accused of commencing the strike, pleaded guilty and was jailed six weeks.
In this first part, he shares that the strike was a lastresort measure that really was more than two. Government acts against instigators and key participants. Nov 26, 2012 over 100 smrt bus drivers from china went on a fullday strike on monday, protesting a disparity in salary between them and other foreign bus captains. Apr 05, 20 singapore, former smrt bus driver he jun ling opens up to jeanette tan and peace chiu to share the story behind why and how more than 170 bus drivers ended up going on a twoday strike against their employer on the morning of 26 november 2012. On 26 november 2012, 171 bus drivers from publictransport service provider smrt corporation limited smrt refused to go to work, and 88 were absent from work the next day. Smrt, which said the strike affected about 5% of its bus services, claimed the difference in pay between the chinese and malaysian bus drivers was due to the malaysians being permanent employees. Smrt bus drivers from china that started a strike on monday did so illegally, acting manpower minister tan chuan jin said on tuesday. Over 100 smrts prc bus drivers went on strike on monday. In our company, there are mainly two types of foreign workers. The protest began before dawn, when workers at the companys rented dormitory in woodlands. Yeah, in other countries, it would be called a strike. The conduct of illegal strikes by the smrt bus drivers disrupted our public transport services. Its not easy being a bus captain in singapore if youre prc. The incident presents a valuable opportunity for a critical study of singapores reaction to the labour unrest and questions the.
He jun ling, 32, gao yue qiang, 32, liu xiangying, 33, and wang xianjie, 39, appeared in the subordinate court at 6. Jul 24, 2017 driver went on strike, did not want to continue the journey and all of us had to change to the next 969 bus. Strike by china bus drivers tests singapores patience. Singaporeans reacted strongly to the news of the prc bus drivers going on strike today, as it was the first strike in singapore in living memory there havent been strikes in singapore since the 1950s. Most of singapore already hate smrt for the train disruptions. Singapore, former smrt bus driver he jun ling opens up to jeanette tan and peace chiu to share the story behind why and how more than 170 bus drivers ended up going on a twoday strike against their employer on the morning of 26 november 2012. Singapores first strike in 25 years shines spotlight on. Five exsmrt bus drivers have been charged for criminal offences. Its not easy being a bus captain in singapore if youre. Nov 26, 2012 smrt bus drivers from china that started a strike on monday did so illegally, acting manpower minister tan chuan jin said on tuesday. Singapore jails bus driver after transport protest bbc news. Smrt bus driver strike case analysis research paper 2037. Workers on strike were given an agreement to persuade them to get back to work, however, more than 60 drivers determined to stick to the strike.
Gao yue qiang, 32, liu xiangying, 33, wang xianjie, 39, and he jun ling, 32, pleaded guilty for their roles in the strike singapores first in 26 years at. A subsidiary of smrt corporation, it traded as trans island bus services until 10 may 2004. Four smrt bus drivers from china were yesterday charged with instigating this weeks illegal strike, resulting in bus services being affected on monday and tuesday. The criminal case against the drivers, who work for the public transport company smrt, implicates the rights to freedom of association and assembly, as well as the right to. The headline on asiaone read smrt bus drivers refuse to go to work. But surprisingly again, smrt isnt the big butt of jokes this time round. Over 100 smrt bus drivers from china went on a fullday strike on monday, protesting a disparity in salary between them and other foreign bus. On 28 november 2012, 20 smrt bus drivers who had gone on strike on both days were called in by the police to assist in investigations. Apr 28, 20 it has been reported that a mass strike conducted by chinese bus drivers broke out on 26, nov 2012 when about 171 smrt bus drivers refused to report to work tan, 2012 november 28.
Smrt bus driver strike 2 years early, but still proven right. Smrt has more than 2,100 drivers and operates a quarter of the public bus fleet. He appeared grim in court on monday, as the charge was read out to him in mandarin, accusing him of commencing the strike between 6am and 7am on 26. Smrt has about 2,000 bus drivers compared to competitor sbs transits 5,300 of which about 450 are from china. The twoday strike last november involved chinese drivers at the statecontrolled smrt transport company protesting about pay and conditions.
Bus captains do attend english classes smrt apologises. Dec 29, 2012 this weeks strike involving 171 smrt bus drivers in singapore has gone around the world and has been picked up by international media. Smrt has apologised to all affected passengers for the inconveniences they faced when the bus driver of bus 969 refused to drive after two young children below the. Nov 27, 2012 the national trades union congress ntuc says it supports the action taken by the government regarding the illegal strike of the smrt s bus drivers read more at.
About 100 smrt bus drivers recruited from china have agreed to go back to work today, after daylong talks with the bus operator over salary. Lessons to learn from the illegal smrt strike blogger. Fareen writes, but the driver cant tell how much is the fare in english. It has been reported that a mass strike conducted by chinese bus drivers broke out on 26, nov 2012 when about 171 smrt bus drivers refused to report to work tan, 2012 november 28. But its bus operations have been making operating losses for many years in a row now.
Arrest of smrt bus drivers for instigating a strike. Smrt, which said the strike affected about 5% of its bus services, claimed the difference in pay between the chinese and malaysian bus drivers. Feb 25, 20 the first smrt bus driver to participate in the strike, mr bao feng shan, was sentenced to 6 weeks in prison on 3 december 2012. A total of 171 smrt bus drivers took part in the strike on 26 november 2012. On saturday, facebook user fareen salauddin put up a post about a dispute that happened on smrt bus service 969. Smrt investigating case of singapore bus driver going on. Singapore has jailed one chinese bus driver for six weeks and deported 29 others for. Last november, 171 smrt bus drivers from china made headlines when they went on strike over pay and living conditions. The strike spotlighted global and domestic scrutiny on singapores swift handling of the disruption. While we took action to charge 4 bus drivers earlier this week for engaging in a conspiracy to instigate others to participate in the strike, another driver will be.
This weeks strike involving 171 smrt bus drivers in singapore has gone around the world and has been picked up by international media. Bao feng shan, 38, admitted that he committed the offence on 26 november. There is no change to services during mornings and evening peak periods on weekdays. Smrt bus driver strike case analysis freebooksummary. This story of a strike by chinese bus drivers in singapore offers a closeup look at a major issue facing the southeast asian citystate today. By taking matters into their own hands the drivers have. About 100 smrt bus drivers recruited from china have agreed to go back to work today, after daylong talks with the bus operator over salary, and work and living issues read more at. We serve millions of passengers daily by offering a comprehensive transport network. Over 100 chinese bus drivers in spore go on strike 26nov2012. Singapore, former smrt bus driver he jun ling opens up to jeanette tan and peace.
Nov 27, 2012 about 100 smrt bus drivers recruited from china have agreed to go back to work today, after daylong talks with the bus operator over salary, and work and living issues read more at straitstimes. Channel newsasia, 3 dec 2012, 6 weeks jail for smrt bus driver involved in strike, by dylan loh. Nov 27, 2012 this smrt chinese bus drivers strike is a very interesting development and has brought out a whole load of social issues that deserve closer examination. Fishbone diagram study of smrt bus driver strike 3 new management strategy for our company 3. A chinese bus driver involved in singapores first industrial strike in 26 years was jailed for six weeks as singapore maintains a policy of zero. Nov 27, 2012 smrt bus driver strike 2 years early, but still proven right today, local media reported on a strike by smrt bus drivers hired from mainland china. Talks between management and the disaffected drivers started in the morning, and ended at about 6pm. Smrt corporation ltd is the leading multimodal public transport operator in singapore. Liu xiang ying and gao yue qiangs mitigation plea by workfairsg on february 25, 20. Nov 28, 2012 smrt, which said the strike affected about 5% of its bus services, claimed the difference in pay between the chinese and malaysian bus drivers was due to the malaysians being permanent employees. Dec 05, 2012 the criminal case against the drivers, who work for the public transport company smrt, implicates the rights to freedom of association and assembly, as well as the right to strike. On wednesday, it was announced that 20 smrt bus drivers were called to police cantonment complex to help with police investigation.
Minister of state for transport josephine teo, who was also at the press conference, said 10 per cent of smrt s bus services were affected by the strike on monday, and 5 per cent yesterday. This is an update on the actions taken by the singapore. The ministry of home affairs and manpower ministry jointly announced today that the work permits of 29 smrt bus drivers who took part in the illegal strike have been revoked and they will be. To make up for the shortfall, she said drivers from sbs transit, as well as private bus operators, had been mobilised and put on. According to fareens account, 2 small kids, aged around 2 and 4, had boarded the bus and the bus captain had insisted that they pay the bus fare. Smrt bus driver strike case analysis research paper 2037 words. Four smrt bus drivers from china were charged on thursday with instigating an illegal strike involving fellow drivers at the woodlands dormitory on 26 and 27 november. The defence respectfully submits that as mr bao was selfrepresented and the present arguments were not placed before the court, this court is free to depart from its prior decision in considering the material we. Minister of state for transport josephine teo, who was also at the press conference, said 10 per cent of smrts bus services were affected by the strike on monday, and 5 per cent yesterday. Strike by china bus drivers tests singapores patience reuters. According to smrt, 102 bus captains failed to turn up for work.