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Good support has helped in the union journey of new NTUC Central Committee member and Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union (SMEEU) General Secretary Eileen Yeo, 51, an Admin Officer in the Sub-Contracting Department of Keppel Shipyard Ltd.
NTUC This Week: You are a female General Secretary of a union in a male dominated industry. Has it been tough?
Eileen Yeo: Being female has never been an issue from the time I joined my company 27 years ago. Being female is also not an issue in the union. Actually, in some ways it is an advantage. I started out as a union activist when a union leader from my company asked me to help with the scholarship awards and activities for members. From there, I saw how useful the union was and was told that I could do more and speak up for workers as I knew what their problems and workplace issues were. As I had family support to look after my children who were young then, I thought about it and decided to join the union 20 years ago.
How did you develop as a unionist?
After I joined, I got more involved and became a Branch Official first, then Branch Treasurer from 2001 to 2013, and then Branch Chairman. I was elected into the SMEEU Executive Committee in 2001, became Assistant General Secretary in 2009 and General Secretary from 2013 till now. Again, being female was not an issue as I was elected based on capability. I was fortunate because I had a very good mentor in former SMEEU President Wong Weng Ong who introduced me to union work. He would bring me along for negotiations with management, handling members’ problems in the workplace and generally walking the ground to understand the issues that union leaders need to know. I was also exposed to NTUC events.
How and why did you decide to stand for election in the NTUC Central Committee?
What happened was many senior union leaders from various unions talked to me and encouraged me to take part in the election. They said that it is better for those who really have the time and passion to serve to step forward to do it. I was encouraged by them and so I took part. I was excited when the results were being announced and so happy that I can come forward to help more members and their families.
I am thankful that NTUC has given me the opportunity to get more exposure in the Central Committee and do my part to nurture female union leaders. Women always think very carefully before they commit, but when
they do they do so wholeheartedly. There are an increasing number of female leaders stepping forward to serve and we encourage all the unions to bring in more female leaders to lead the next generation.
