NTUC Launches Year-Long 50th Anniversary Celebrations

The Labour Movement ushered in a momentous milestone in its history today with a launch event to kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

Held outdoors at the Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Campus Green diagonally opposite the NTUC Trade Union House (TUH), some 400 guests comprising union leaders, staff of NTUC and its Social Enterprises, NTUC’s strategic partners, and the tripartite partners, witnessed the launch of the NTUC 50 U Hallmark1 on the façade of TUH by NTUC President John De Payva and Secretary-General Lim Swee Say.

TUH was chosen as the venue befitting this historical occasion as it is the former home of NTUC (from 2000 to 2004) before the latter moved to its present premises at NTUC Centre at One Marina Boulevard. The venue brought back a strong sense of nostalgia for the participants, especially the more senior union leaders and staff.

NTUC 50 Logo Depicts An Unshakeable Bond

The highlight of the evening was the launch of the NTUC 50 U Hallmark on the façade of TUH. Participants were wowed by the multi-coloured musical light-up of TUH, which culminated in the lighting up of the NTUC 50 U Hallmark. The NTUC 50 U Hallmark forms part of the NTUC 50 logo, specially designed to commemorate NTUC’s 50th Anniversary.

NTUC 50 U Hallmark forms part of the NTUC 50 logo, specially designed to commemorate NTUC’s 50th Anniversary.

The NTUC 50 logo depicts the strong and unshakeable bond that the Labour Movement has forged over 50 years with each and every union member and worker of Singapore to bring them a better and more meaningful life. Through its unions, associations and social enterprises, working in trust and co-operation with its tripartite partners, the Labour Movement has touched the lives of members and workers at work, live and play. “U & Me” portrays this strong and close relationship nurtured over 50 years, through the economic ups and downs.

The logo has a colour theme that reflects the vibrancy and inclusiveness of the Labour Movement. The five colours symbolise the five decades, and each colour tells a story: fiery red for courage; vibrant magenta for passion; soothing blue for calm and resilience during uncertainty; rich green for growth; and glowing orange to welcome future challenges.

A History of Service to Members and Workers

The story of the Labour Movement is the story of how it has stood up for and supported the common man-in-the-street since its inception in 1961 to the present day.

Significant moments in NTUC’s history include: the Modernisation Seminar of 1969 when the Labour Movement ditched confrontation for co-operation; the establishment of the National Wages Council in 1972 which saw labour taking its place in national deliberations as a tripartite partner of equal standing; the setting up of the first NTUC co-operatives in the 1970s to combat profiteering and make essential goods and services affordable to workers; NTUC mobilising workers towards skills training and upgrading and in 1980s in the face of technological changes and economic restructuring; the recession of 1984-1985 when NTUC took the bold, unprecedented step of backing the Government’s call for wage freeze and CPF cuts, this being the first real test of tripartism; the restructuring of omnibus unions into industrial and house unions in the 1980s to better serve the interests of members; the rolling out of the Skills Re-development Programme in 1996 which was a timely move when the Asian Financial Crisis hit; the unveiling of the LM2011 Vision in 2006 to be a Labour Movement for All Collars, Ages and Nationalities (ALL CAN) of Workers, in response to the growing social divides; reaching out to older workers, back-to-work women and contract and casual workers through a raft of signature programmes; establishing Labour Movement communities to reach out to the workers of yesterday, today and tomorrow, hence an ALL CAN, 3-GEN Labour Movement.

 

The Relationship that Counts

For 50 years, NTUC has kept faith with members and workers, fighting for better wages and better working conditions for them, equipping them with skills training and upgrading to enhance their employment and employability, setting up co-operatives to enrich their quality of life, steering them through an ever-shifting economic landscape so that they emerge strong and resilient. In so doing, the Labour Movement has been a constructive partner in nation-building, working for the common good.

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, Heng Chee How, who is also Chairman of the NTUC 50 Committee, said: “NTUC treasures the relationship we have with every member and worker. They are at the centre of what we stand for and do as a Labour Movement. By uniting and mobilising the strength and spirit of the workers over the past 50 years, we have championed fair play, mutual help and a better life and hope for many. This remains our pledge to the workers of Singapore as we mark this 50th anniversary.”

NTUC 50 Year-Long Celebrations

This historic year will see the Labour Movement expanding and intensifying its engagement with its members and workers. As part of the anniversary , NTUC has planned a series of signature events throughout the year that will bring together, honour and celebrate the people closely associated with the Labour Movement, and this includes union leaders, members, workers, staff, strategic partners, tripartite partners and the international labour fraternity. The events include:

• Launch of President S R Nathan’s Book, “Winning Against the Odds: The Labour Research Unit in NTUC’s Founding” on 25 January 2011. President Nathan will gift this book to NTUC as part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations.celebrations
• NTUC 50 Rally on 1 May 2011. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the Guest-of-Honour. The event will see an unprecedented 8,500-strong participation at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and includes a concert treat.
• NTUC 50 Dinner, Awards & Book Launch on 13 May 2011. Some 3,500 guests will witness the NTUC 50 Awards being conferred to those who have made outstanding contributions to the Labour Movement, as well as the launch of a special book commemorating 50 years of the NTUC.
• NTUC 50 Model Partnership Awards on 20 May (Reward Programme) and 21 May (Award Presentation) 2011. Showcasing the strong efforts by the tripartite partners and demonstrating the good outcomes delivered for workers. And how an ALL CAN workforce can contribute to and benefit from Inclusive Growth.
• ITUC-Asia Pacific Regional Conference from 11 to 13 May 2011. Singapore is proud to host this once-in-four-years conference to be held at Downtown East. International labour leaders and unionists will be invited to participate in the NTUC 50 celebrations.
• Young NTUC Celebrates National Day on 9 August 2011. Some 20,000 participants including union members are expected to celebrate the nation’s 41st birthday at the Padang.
• National Delegates’ Conference from 11 to 13 October 2011. This will be a fitting wrap-up the LM2011 Vision and the unfolding of the strategic intent for LM2015, the first lap of the next 50 years for the Labour Movement.

Besides these signature events, the Labour Movement family – unions, social enterprises, LM communities and NTUC departments – will also commemorate NTUC’s 50th anniversary in various ways, expanding and intensifying their engagement with their respective stakeholders.