NTUC’S Response TO ST Forum Letter: “Younger workers are joining unions”
30 September 2005
Forum Page Editor
The Straits Times
1. I refer to the letter, “Why young workers are not joining unions”, dated 27 September 2005, by Mrs Riana Ariffin.
2. In her letter, Mrs Ariffin said younger workers are not joining the unions. That is not correct. While many countries have seen declining union membership, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and our affiliated unions and associations, have seen our membership almost doubled in the last 10 years to stand at 450,000 today. Among them, about 202,000 are below 40 years old.
3. Mrs Ariffin also concluded that unions are not relevant as a worker “depends solely on himself to stay employed, and not on the union per se…it’s as simple as that.”
4. We wish to point out that the reality on the ground is much more complex. With globalisation, businesses will continue to restructure in order to survive and grow. Workers will continue to be affected by the fast pace of economic changes.
5. The labour movement has evolved to stay relevant to our workers. We recognise that if businesses are not competitive, more workers will lose their jobs. We therefore take pro-active steps to help create value at the workplace. Just last month, NTUC initiated the nationwide customer-centric initiative to improve service standards in the retail sector. This would ultimately translate into better take home pay for service sector workers.
6. In the event of a retrenchment, our union would make sure that it is carried out properly and fairly. We make sure that affected workers are given fair compensation and the necessary assistance like interim healthcare protection to help them tide over the difficult period. We also arrange for training and job matching to enable them to gain re-employment as quickly as possible.
7. NTUC was also quick to anticipate the emerging threat of structural unemployment. We initiated the Job Re-creation Programme (JRP) early this year to redesign low-value and low-paying jobs into better jobs with more decent pay. The JRP has already helped more than 2,500 job seekers find employment. We are now expanding the scope of the JRP to other sectors with the aim of re-creating 10,000 jobs every 12 to 18 months.
8. Looking forward, the pace of globalisation and restructuring will only get faster. The labour movement will have to do even more to protect and further the interests of our union members, in particular the low wage workers and low income families. The $1.15 mil “Back to School” programme is just one such initiative.
9. In addition to the core industrial relations work that the labour movement does, we have other programmes and initiatives like the Skills Redevelopment Programme, NTUC Education and Training Fund, hardship grants, public transport and NTUC FairPrice vouchers, scholarships and bursaries, to help all union members and their families lead a better life. Our cooperatives, too, have helped our union members “stretch” their dollar and cope with the costs of living. These programmes, assistance schemes and benefits are listed in the union membership booklet, “Better Protection, More Help”, which has been sent to every union member.
10. NTUC has stood the test of time over the last few decades. We will continue to change and adapt, so as to better protect the interests of the workers and better serve the needs of our members.
Neo Gim Kian
Director
Membership Department
National Trades Union Congress
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