Ong Kung Yong has been a unionist for more than four decades. After joining the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers’ Union in 1972, he started serving in its Executive Council four years later. His first taste of leadership was in 1980 when he became Vice-President before rising to take on the role of Senior Vice-President five years later. He continued in that capacity till he stepped down in 2012 to make way for a new generation of leaders.
NTUCtw: Why did you join the union?
Mr Ong: Some of the workers then were experiencing appalling conditions at workplaces. If we didn’t unionise or organise ourselves, it would have been extremely difficult to fight for the welfare rights of the workers.
NTUCtw: Comparing the situation then and now, what has changed?
Mr Ong: Back then, it was hard to find a job. Workers encountered various problems at workplaces. As a union representative, I tried to rally the support of my fellow peers to champion for the welfare rights of those working in the industry.
Since then, the working conditions have improved drastically. So, I always share with the younger generation not to take the peace and stability of our working environment for granted.
NTUCtw: You speak about welfare rights. Can you share with us some specific rights that you fought for?
Mr Ong: This stemmed from an incident which happened in the early 80s. A union member met with a car accident just as he was leaving office. He passed away and left behind his wife and two young children.
Back then, there was no such thing as hardship grants. So, I went around with a piece of blank paper and collected donations from union members for the bereaved family.
I also asked the management if they were willing to pay a few months of the deceased’s salary to the family. But I was rejected. The management said if they did, it would set a precedent and union members would want a similar package.
NTUCtw: Did this incident spark any changes?
Mr Ong: Yes, this led to a brainstorming session on how the union could help grieving families overcome financial difficulties as they cope with the sudden death of their loved ones.
Not long after, the union introduced a ‘Death Benefit’ clause during Collective Agreement negotiations. It was a long process, nearly nine years, to get companies to accept the clause. But this paved the way for hardship grants.
NTUCtw: What are your plans as a union member?
Mr Ong: As a union representative, the greatest satisfaction is when you have assisted your members to resolve their difficulty. I may have reached the retirement age, but I am not stopping. I remain an active union member.
Original article written by Florina Oo, and can be found in NTUC This Week (6 July 2014)
