Question 1 Read the case study and answer the questions follows. RSS Frozen Food Manufacturers The workers of this company, who belong to the National Catering and Allied Workers Union (NCAWU), have finally had enough of being treated badly at their workplace. The rules and regulations are not being followed, and several workers have been dismissed without the proper procedure being followed. The factory supervisor, Mr. Jason, is very abusive towards the workers, and yesterday, he refused Mr.Ahmad, a worker in the factory, time off work to attend her sisters funeral. The workplace is dirty, and some of the machinery is unsafe. The workers also do not receive wage slips and do not know what deductions are being made. They got together after work and discussed what their next move should be. Ms.Susan, who is a food packer, suggested that they should call a strike. She believes that this is the last resort to get senior management to pay attention to their grievances and to change its attitude towards the workers. They have tried on many previous occasions to address their grievances with Mr.Jason, but nothing has changed. The workers called on their shop assistant, Mr.Ravi, who again brought the grievances to the attention of Mr.Jason, their immediate supervisor, but nothing has happened. The workers then held a ballot during which all but one voted in favour of embarking on strike action. Mr.Ravi, then served a 48-hour notice on Mr.Jason that the workers were going to embark on industrial action in the form of a strike. Source: Adapted from Business Studies for All

(a) Is Ms. Susans suggestion appropriate? Explain your reasons. (10 Marks)

(b) Discuss the steps to be followed by the workers in order to call a legal strike. (40 Marks) [Total: 50 Marks]

Question 2 Read the case and answer the questions follows. KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 Low-cost carrier AirAsia Group Bhd is expected to retrench over 250 staff and personnel amid its efforts to downsize operations, Astro Awani reported today, quoting anonymous sources. It reported that those expected to be laid off include 111 cabin crew members out of 1,900 existing ones, 172 pilots, and 50 engineers. It is understood the retrenchment was announced by AirAsias chief executive officer Riad Asmat in a briefing to company staff earlier this afternoon. The retrenchment scheme would be informed via e-mail within 24 hours, with the

May-Aug.2020 Final Online AssessmentBL228 Industrial Relations

Page 2 of 2

company promising compensation for them. The retrenchment is reportedly not limited to AirAsia Berhad but also to other subsidiaries under the group. Source: malaymail.com/news

(a) Other than retrenchment, explain alternatives that Air Asia can take in order to manage with its excess workers. (20 Marks)

(b) If you were one of the Air Asia staff involved with the retrenchment scheme and being notified via email within 24 hours, how would you have response to it? Justify. (30 Marks) [Total: 50 Marks]