Four unions have joined the ranks of the Industrial Workers Education and Training Fund (IWETF) unions as associate members. They are the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union, the Education Services Union, the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union and the Union of Security Employees (USE).
The IWETF came about when the Pioneer Industries Employees Union and the Singapore Industrial Labour Organisation restructured in 1982 to form 10 unions.
The 10 unions are: Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union; Chemical Industries Employees’ Union; Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union; Keppel FELS Employees’ Union; Natsteel Employees’ Union; National Transport Workers’ Union; Metal Industries Workers’ Union; Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union; Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union; and United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries.
The four new associate members signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the 10 IWETF unions on 12 August 2017 at a two-day IWETF gathering in Batam.
NTUC Assistant Secretaries-General (ASG) Zainal Sapari and Cham Hui Fong witnessed the signing. ASG Zainal is also the chairperson of IWETF.
Leadership Development and Skills Upgrading
The associate members will work together with the IWETF by building on the good work that has been achieved over the years.
“The MOU signing ceremony marks the beginning for the IWETF unions to expand its network and collaborate with the associate unions in areas of trade union leadership, skills upgrading of high potential union leaders and keeping abreast of currents trends and developments that can have an impact on the Labour Movement.
“Moving forward, the IWETF unions and the four associate unions will look for opportunities to strengthen and expand the network,” said ASG Zainal.
According to USE President Hareenderpal Singh, the collaboration is especially timely as the security industry is in the process of transforming.
“We look forward to working together with the other unions in the IWETF to upskill our workers so they can be as ready as they can for this transformation,” he added.
