“We have been so close that people think that we are childhood friends who work in the same company. But we only got to know each other during our induction to the executive committee [Exco] in August 2017,” said newly elected Chemical Industries Employees’ Union (CIEU) Exco Member Mohamad Yusof Tisari (pictured left).
The work of a union leader may be centred around the needs of union members in and out of the workplace. But in the course of serving their members, a close friendship was forged between Yusof and fellow Exco newcomer Zakhiyon Abdul Hamid (pictured right).
“We came to realise that we have many similarities. It may be our age: we come from the same era, like the same kind of music, and have the same kind of craziness,” added Zakhiyon.
Squeezing time out of a busy work schedule and their ongoing Diploma in Employment Development conducted by the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi), the duo go beyond the fun and laughter to tell us more about what being a union leader means to them.
Mohamad Yusof Tisari, 51
CIEU Exco Member and Storekeeper at Chemical Industry Far East Limited
What got you more involved with union work?
Being a very vocal person, I would express my opinions on matters that were not properly taken care of such as annual leave and medical benefits. Hearing me speak my mind, my former branch chairman then asked me if I wanted to be a formal voice in expressing my opinions. I thought why not and decided to give it a try. That’s when I started to get myself involved 15 years ago.
When I started joining the union and became part of the committee, I began upgrading myself, and from that exposure, I realised that there is so much more I can do for myself and my colleagues.
By taking on a bigger role in the union, I felt that I could better serve my members with greater influence.
What are the causes closest to your heart?
To build good labour-management relations and to have mutual respect is important to me. It is crucial to build trust that will lead to the company and its workers working well together. A little compassion and understanding can go a long way in helping the company retain good talent, and workers can benefit from this trust too.
How would you describe your union experience in a word?
Satisfaction, because it is very satisfying to see members enjoy the benefits of things like collective bargaining, see them do better because of initiatives such as bursary awards and welfare initiatives such as Gift From The Heart, where we can make a positive impact and give our members opportunities to bond together with their families through outings. It is a great satisfaction to see how members do better, not just regarding employment, but also in their family lives thanks to the efforts of the union.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from this experience?
The importance of education. I had not paid much attention to education when I was younger, but after joining the union, and going through the various bite-sized programmes the union had sent me on, it’s made a huge difference to me. I’m also now taking my Diploma in Employment Development.
This has given me the drive to make myself stay relevant and employable in the labour market. I’m very lucky to have had this opportunity, and this is something I must push and encourage my members to do as well.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I’m a qualified Silat coach with the Singapore Sports Council and have produced a couple of world champions in my time. I like Silat so much that I’m hoping to be able to continue teaching in schools once I complete my diploma.
Zakhiyon Abdul Hamid, 51
CIEU Exco Member and Process Technician at Asahi Kasei Synthetic Rubber Singapore
What got you more involved with union work?
I started as a union committee member some 28 years ago, back in 1991. I’ve served for 18 years as a union leader before taking up an opportunity to work in the Middle East for eight years.
I wanted to do this because by being part of the committee, I’m able to voice my opinions and be heard. Hopefully, we can influence our management partners positively too. I have the experience, and I have the desire to make a difference. But to do so, I must be in a position to put my voice forward proactively.
When I can get something done, and it benefits the workers, it feels good for me. When they are happy, I feel good, and this happiness motivates me.
What are the causes closest to your heart?
Building trust is something that is very close to me. I must build the trust of branch committee members and the company management in our ability to fairly address issues. We need to work together with each other instead of going head-on against each other and listen more to issues. When done well, it will help build a positive working relationship between workers and the company.
What makes the difference in my relationship with human resources is that we always try to find win-win outcomes for both the workers and management. And by taking a structured approach to negotiations, we can achieve more, rather than going head-to-head with our management partners.
How would you describe your union experience in a word?
Sincerity. The word encompasses genuineness, integrity, trustworthiness, good faith all in one. Being sincere is the most important value regardless of any outcome because it shows that we have done our best for our members, and people appreciate this the most.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from this experience?
I’ve got to experience the real deal about life — a reality check.
During my learning journey in the union, the courses that I enrolled in and training that the union encouraged me to undertake has prepared me for the real deal. This knowledge and experience have made a key difference in giving me the confidence and capability as a union leader to support and help my members. The experience of undertaking negotiations for my members has also helped me cope with the challenges of working overseas, where my training has taught me to adapt and look at things from various perspectives.
Whatever we do, we have to learn from both positive and negative experiences – this is all part of our training.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I love music, be it from a live band, a discotheque, karaoke, I like anything to do with music. Vocals are my favourite, and it doesn’t matter if it’s Irish, Chinese or anything. The way songs are sung with powerful vocals, I really like.
