Having served in the Labour Movement for 25 years, NTUC Immediate Past President (IPP) and Healthcare Services Employees’ Union General Secretary Diana Chia was awarded the Distinguished Service (Star) by the Labour Movement this year.
She was a founding member of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union when it was established in 1989. She served as the union’s president from 1991 until she was elected as its general secretary in 2005, a position she still holds today
IPP Chia was also elected into the NTUC Central Committee in 1994, and became NTUC’s first female president in 2011.
She gave strong support to the 3-Flow framework (Flow In, Flow Up, Flow On) of union leaders, and led by example when she made way for a new generation of leaders to take over at last year’s NTUC National Delegates’ Conference.
Taking Care of Workers
As a senior nurse manager at the Singapore General Hospital, IPP Chia places strong emphasis on the welfare and well-being of workers. As president of NTUC, she strengthened tripartite relations between the Government, unions and employers, while promoting good labour-management relations.
She served on various tripartite bodies, including the Tripartite Workgroup that reviewed the Employment Act, the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers, National Wages Council (NWC), the Industrial Arbitration Court and National Productivity Council.
IPP Chia also spared no effort in voicing out workers’ concerns and in influencing the Government to implement beneficial labour policies.
In her time at NWC, she urged employers to be fair to workers, improve productivity and share gains, and do more for low-wage workers. This led to the creation of quantitative NWC guidelines that recommend wage increases for low-wage workers.
In addition, IPP Chia successfully urged the Government to review the Employment Act to allow professionals, managers and executives to be covered and to ensure vulnerable workers received better protection.
Other May Day Awardees
Gabriel Teo Chen Thye, chairman of One Marina Property Services Pte Ltd – Meritorious Service
During the 11 years when Mr Gabriel Teo was chairing NTUC Income’s Investment Committee, he ensured that its investment policies and strategies were implemented in an appropriate manner, taking into consideration risk factors and changes in the business and economic environment.
Mr Teo, who is the chairman of One Marina Property Services (OMPS), ensures that the company stays committed to its vision of being the “Finest Real Estate Services” company in the nation. Under his stewardship, he transformed OMPS from an internal property management arm of the Singapore Labour Foundation and NTUC, to a restructured company providing a holistic suite of services and capabilities in real estate through professionalism, service excellence, reliability and innovation. This resulted in strong business and revenue growth.
Selvam Sivasamy, consultant of the Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union – Comrade of Labour (Star)
Mr Selvam Sivasamy has served in the Labour Movement for nearly 30 years, and last served as the general secretary of the Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union (PUBSU).
He has worked hard for the welfare of the workers, and one area was advocating lifelong learning. He also worked with the management to convert all daily-rated employees (DREs) to monthly-rated employees (MREs) through upgrading so that DREs can have career progression and benefit from skills upgrading, wage and productivity increase.
He led the union through many tough decisions and changes, and never shunned away from doing what was right. Under his leadership, PUBEU continued to build strong bipartite relations with management.
With excellent labour-management relations, PUBEU drives initiatives such as re-employment for mature workers to age 65 and then to 67, as well as representing professionals, managers and executives even before legislative changes.
He selflessly stepped down as general secretary in 2014 for leadership renewal in the union. He continues to share his extensive experience generously with younger leaders and encourage them to attend leadership development programmes to sharpen their industrial relations skills.
Richard Tan Peck Hoon, general secretary of Housing and Development Board Staff Union – Comrade of Labour (Star)
In his 36 years as a union leader of the Housing and Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU), Mr Richard Tan has always advocated harmonious relations between the union and the management. His efforts have ensured a mutual understanding between all parties involved and greater alignment to improve the lives of workers.
His efforts include strongly championing for training and career progression for workers within the company.
For example, he has gone beyond helping HDBSU’s members by convincing the management to introduce the Progressive Wage Model clauses in the contracts of parking wardens. This ensured the outsourced workers can enjoy better wages and career progression opportunities.
Within the union, he also constantly gives younger leaders exposure and opportunities, allowing them to handle union matters and industrial relations cases, while providing advice and guidance when needed.
Source: NTUC This Week
