I ACKNOWLEDGE concerns raised in letters in The Straits Times Forum.

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If the DBS's intention is to position the bank for strength and growth, why hasn't the DBS Workers Union be invited to help build a strong glocal DBS. Hasn't the DBS Workers Union shows its commitment as responsible and committed partner for the Bank to gain its strength and growth in the past? It is unlikely that the role of the union is suspected or lack the necessary credential? What value add can Lim Swee Say play to the symbiotic relationship between DBS and its House Union?

" Streamlining and optimising staff resources to match the realities of the new environment are just one part of an overall programme to position DBS for the future and take advantage of opportunities arising from this crisis. This includes improving our technology platform and reorganising for greater teamwork. " Why can't streamlining and optimisng staff resources be a constant ongoing process? Be it redeployment, retraining, early retirement etc...if there are "excess" resources, it is doubtful that they appear all at once but come about due to many other factors etc etc...

what a load of typical corporate communication crap

See this joker lady says: "pay cut will hurt employees. so DBS retrenched them.." This is perhaps the joke of the year..!!

Oh it should'nt have happened. We have done our best. Happy and prosperous new year to those were retrenched. Better luck next life.

Translation,

We overborrowed and our former CEO bailed on us. So now we discover we actually have to pay back REAL money, we are chopping off people who's workload we can force the remainders to do without extra pay.

wasn't it recently reported that the retrenchment was a last minute decision that the union branch secretary was was informed how many hours before the chop ? and Lim Swee Suay also was not informed ? the board of directors was not informed ?

How come now say this has been long debated ?

Who is telling the truth and who is telling the crap ?

"While the recent decision to reduce our staff levels may have given the perception that this was a rash cost-cutting initiative of first resort, the fact is we discussed and debated various options at length."

Karen Ngui (Ms), please tell us at what length ? 3 hours ? 3 days ? 3 weeks ?

Reported by the media on 7 Nov 2008 that DBS will retrench 900 staff

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...388278/1/.html

It was reported on 15 Nov that this was last minute decision :


DBS announced its retrenchment plan a week ago, after reporting that its third-quarter net profits had dropped 38 per cent from a year ago to $379 million.

It said the layoffs would help streamline and restructure the company as it battled the effects of the global financial crisis.

The 900 affected staff make up 6 per cent of the bank's 15,000-strong workforce in 16 economies.

Staff union president Nora Kang said yesterday that the bank told her of the decision just three days before it was made public.

'I asked them: 'Why so sudden? Why such short notice?' They explained it was a very last-minute decision and not an easy one to make,' she said.

What DBS did, she added, went against the usual practice of management giving unions a month's advance notice of mass layoffs.

The short notice also meant there was no room for her to negotiate for other cost-cutting options to be considered. 'I'm disappointed with the management, but I have to focus now on helping the retrenched workers,' she said.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_302610.html