He became the vice president of the Port Officers’ Union (POU) in 2016 after being elected into the union’s executive committee in 2010.
For 36-year-old Elsen Yeow Zheng Koon, a senior manager with PSA Singapore’s Resource Department, the key challenge for union members will be to stay relevant in the face of technological changes. According to him, one way they can do so is to tap on their SkillsFuture credit.
POU currently has 1600 members.
NTUC This Week: What has your focus been since your election?
Elsen Yeow: Since my election into the executive committee, I have been understanding better what the union does for its members. I am also glad of being able to help people around me who may run into issues at work. They come and talk to us about prospects for progression in the organisation and want more information about what they can do to upskill themselves for the future.
Q: What is the awareness level of the SkillsFuture Credit amongst POU members?
A: Most of our members know about their SkillsFuture credit eligibility but there is a lack of awareness on the courses they can consider using it for. This is where we hope to create a better understanding when we organise the proposed SkillsFuture roadshows at our various terminals this year. The dates are being finalised. There is a constant need to upgrade ourselves so that we can maintain our relevance, otherwise one day we will just be left behind. We are now in an environment where there is so much data and information flowing around… I would recommend to my members to take courses through SkillsFuture so they can better understand data analytics. We also pass down the message of the importance of upskilling during our union-management meetings with the various departments and at various events held by POU.
Q: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced recently that the port of Singapore had sustained its performance in 2016. What factors would you attribute to this achievement?
A: One factor is the way the organisation has changed ways of operating inside the port to stay nimble. Secondly, it’s the people factor . If staff do not adapt fast and change, then they will remain stagnant. This is where both POU and the Singapore Port Workers Union (SPWU) have been helping its members to adapt to the changes by pushing for upskilling.
Q: Has there been an instance where you have helped a union member’s family?
A: There was one incident I can remember where we helped the family of a union member who was involved in a bicycle accident overseas when he was on a holiday. He passed on. POU worked with the company to explore ways to help the affected family and also secured the relevant NTUC grants for them so that they can meet their daily needs. Union Officials also went down personally to meet members' spouse at her home to offer condolences and to collect the required documents for the processing of claims. The payout of $20,000, certainly went a long way to help the family's financial situation . On top of this, POU also worked with the management to work out some additional financial aid to help the family tide over the difficult period.
Source: NTUC This Week
