'As our National Day theme has been 'Many Stories, One Singapore', let us make our LM 'Many Unions, One Labour Movement'.'
This was National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) President Diana Chia's key message at the NTUC Pre-Ordinary Delegates' Conference 2013 summed up the direction of the Labour Movement (LM) as it looks towards the future.
'Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has in his National Day Rally pointed the new way forward. Hence, it is time for the LM to continue contributing towards nation building and participating actively in building a better future for Singapore,' President Chia urged.
The event was a prelude to the upcoming NTUC Ordinary Delegates' Conference in October.
The LM carved three topics of discussion for next month that would define their key roles and possible challenges in 2015.
Topics include 'Range Up Through Progressive Wage Model', 'Future Ready Union And Leadership Development' and 'Inclusive Membership'.
President Chia said the subjects are chosen because they are crucial to the strength, credibility and effectiveness of individual unions and the LM as a whole.
NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who was also present at the event, noted the importance of the discussion topics.
One subject he mentioned was the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). He shared that the PWM is an important tool in aiding the LM to achieve its aim of making every worker a better worker, making every job a better job and, more importantly, helping workers earn higher salaries to improve their household incomes in a more sustainable manner.
'We hope that Singapore will be a better place for all our workers in 2015, 2020, 2030. The Labour Movement today is in good shape. We must make it stronger. As our President has said, let's press on as 'Many Unions, One Labour Movement' to serve the workers of Singapore, to serve our members to the best of our abilities,' added Secretary-General Lim.
The event held on 17 and 19 September 2013 saw 310 union delegates and NTUC representatives discuss the key roles and challenges that the LM faces as it strives to achieve its goals in its LM 2015 vision.
Original article written by Joshua Joseph, and can be found in NTUC This Week (20 September 2013)
