He may be the president of the ExxonMobil Singapore Employees Union (EMSEU), but when Chew Boon Jin was first asked to join the union as a delegate in 2005, he turned it down because he didn’t think he could make a difference.
That perspective changed that same year when the 53-year-old senior technician was eventually persuaded by seniors who noticed his interest in the union's work and saw the leadership potential in him. Talking about the learning process in his own words, "I was like a sponge absorbing everything I got to see and hear during negotiations.”
Joking that he may have been a little late in becoming a union leader, Boon Jin takes some time before a union meeting to share his experiences with NTUC This Week.
NTUC This Week: What does being a unionist mean to you?
Chew Boon Jin: To me, being a unionist is very simple. Just make sure that members are being treated fairly when they come to work, and the work environment is as nice and safe as possible. I try to settle things quietly with as low a profile as possible. That’s always been my style. It’s never my intention to escalate things or make it big. But I will do whatever is necessary to solve a problem.
What made you decide to be more involved?
I found that as a delegate, I didn’t have a say although I had my own opinions and my own ideas. I found that I couldn’t influence things as much. That made want to move up as a unionist so that I can have a bigger say. I wasn’t quite happy when our shift hours were changed from eight- to 12-hours and that made me raise up my hand to say ‘count me in’ during the next election to take on a bigger role.
How do you share your experience with your peers?
Right now, I am encouraging my delegates to speak up more if they have any issues and go to the appropriate levels of management to see if they can solve issues where they arise. If necessary, we (the executive council members) can help step in and support them. I think this is very important and the benefits span beyond them gaining the confidence in dealing with management.
Our delegates are going to be the future of the union. I am only in this position because my seniors allowed me to gain experience and move up. It is a constant learning process. That’s why I try to bring this experience down to the delegates. As they learn, their passions will be fanned and they may become our future leaders.
What are some of the biggest personal lessons for you?
I’m quite an emotional person, but I’ve learnt patience over the years. When a person gets emotional and starts to shout, the message gets lost… and you end up nowhere with the problem unsolved.
Besides being calm, how you say certain things and when you say it is as important as what you have to say. You must bring the negotiation to a certain level or point before you make your main point. It will be more effective that way. I also apply this at home in the way I advise my son. You do learn how to think about things in an orderly manner.
