He swings into action when flights are delayed at Changi Airport, assuring affected passengers that they will be well taken care of while arrangements are being made for them to catch their next flight.
Airline Relations Manager with the SATS Airport Services Timothy Lim, 33, chairs the youth wing of the Air Transport Executive Staff Union (AESU). He is also the chairman of the SATS branch of AESU. AESU has some 1800 members
NTUC This Week: How do you divide your time between work demands and the union?
Timothy Lim: To be very honest, it is very challenging to juggle time between my work at SATS and union duties. However, I always find time to listen to and address some of the concerns of our members as most of them know me personally. I also want to add a personal touch to helping them in whatever way I can.
Q: In what ways is AESU helping its members to keep up with the changing times in the workforce?
A: One area which I am focusing on is to help our members upgrade themselves as many of the younger ones seek career growth. AESU has been collaborating with SATS and SIA to develop the future skills for the industry. We are doing this through continuing education and training. In SATS, we have introduced some new innovations like autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotic arms for cooking. We will leverage these to increase productivity. On the social front, AESU organises talks on topics like housing and healthy living. In the first week of July, we will be launching the AESU Youth campus for youths to learn more about the Labour Movement. They will also be briefed on the industrial relations framework both in Singapore and within AESU.
Q: Tell us more about your youth wing activities and what you hope to achieve.
A: I have been active with Young NTUC where we organise various programmes to connect and involve the youth in our union with those in the other unions within the airport community. Activities like futsal and electronic darts interest the younger members and bring them together. For the future, I would like to see young union members in AESU become a unified voice to speak about the challenges they face and how the union and the Labour Movement can help them tackle these challenges. Also in the pipeline, more social and sporting events to entice the young to take part and get more involved in the union’s activities.
Source: NTUC This Week
