All unions, including The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), must continue to work closely with management partners to achieve Industry 4.0 through the formation of company training committees (CTCs).
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng made the call to union leaders as a guest-of-honour at SMMWU’s Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference (QDC) held on 25 March 2022 at the Hilton Singapore Orchard.
He shared that union leaders can leverage CTCs to help promote workers’ interests by allowing them to get better job prospects through job redesigns, while simultaneously helping companies achieve higher productivity.
Meanwhile, Mr Ng also hoped that SMMWU will continue working with NTUC in developing new business models to attract and retain members, while also exposing them to all the benefits and capabilities that the Labour Movement has to offer.
“If you are willing to embark on this key digital transformation enabler, we [NTUC and SMMWU] can move the needle together,” he said.
The QDC saw several notable changes to The SMMWU’s executive council.
The changes came after several veteran union leaders relinquished their roles, including former SMMWU President Eugene Teo and former SMMWU Secretary-General David Yeo.
They will be succeeded by union leaders Sim Teck Chua and Andy Lim, who will take on the role of the union’s president and secretary-general respectively.
Mr Yeo will continue to serve the union as secretary-general mentor.
In his final opening address as president, Mr Teo reminded some 150 members who attended the QDC, not to be complacent, and to carry on learning and training.
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you, my sisters and brothers, to continue upgrading yourself by attending courses and learning new things.
“COVID has taught me not to be complacent. The world is changing – business practices and processes are changing.”
Meanwhile, Mr Yeo gave special thanks to those who those who have relinquished their executive council positions, as well as those who will not be serving in the following term.
He said: “Through the year under review, we saw esteemed sisters and brothers who stepped down from our Executive Council. I would like to extend my most sincere appreciations to all of them.
“I would also like to deeply thank those who will not be serving in the coming term. All have contributed significantly to the union, and I wish them the very best moving forward.
SMMWU is the largest union affiliated to NTUC representing mainly commerce and service workers in the private sector. It will celebrate its 63rd Anniversary this year.
For the period between April 2017 to March 2021, the union has managed to attract and retain over 100,000 members.
The union also managed to unionise an additional 19 branches during the same period, bringing to the total number of branches to 297 by the end of March 2021.
Newly elected SMMWU President Sim Teck Chua thanked the outgoing executive counsellors, trustees and internal auditors for their years of service and contributions.
“The current team and I are dedicated to continue the good work and we will continue to serve for the wellbeing and the interests of our members,” he said.
