New Roles for Flow-On NTUC Central Committee Members

1     At the recent National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) held on 6-8 December 2011, several NTUC Central Committee (CC) leaders flowed on in support of leadership renewal to give opportunities to younger leaders. These leaders have made invaluable contributions to the Labour Movement and the workers of Singapore.

2     The NTUC organised a dinner on 30 January 2012 at the Orchid Country Club in appreciation of their selfless leadership and service to the Labour Movement. Over 200 guests from NTUC-affiliated unions, associations, social enterprises, related organisations and tripartite partners attended the dinner. Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was special guest at the dinner.

3     At the dinner, NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say paid tribute to nine Flow-On CC members and expressed his appreciation to them, on behalf of the Labour Movement. To tap on their wisdom and experiences, they will assume the following new roles with immediate effect:

4     All nine of them are also appointed as Advisors to NTUC’s U Live community. U Live is the Labour Movement’s exclusive platform to reach out to active agers 55 years and above. The Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi) will also engage them as training associates. In addition, the Flow-On leaders will continue their current roles in NTUC co-operatives and their respective committees.

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ANNEX

Appointment of New Fellows at the One Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute)

The OTC Institute Fellowship is conferred by the OTC Institute Board of Governors on outstanding retired unionists identified by NTUC. The Fellowship was launched to tap the deep knowledge and wide experiences of leaders to coach and guide the next generation of union leaders.

1. Mr Cyrille Tan

Mr Cyrille Tan is a dedicated unionist who has served in the Labour Movement since 1981. He was the NTUC’s Secretary for Financial Affairs (1994-1997, 1998-2003) and Vice-President (1997-1998 and 2003-2011). As General Secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries (UWEEI), Mr Tan has considerable experience overseeing a wide range of industrial relations issues in its 125 branches. His depth of knowledge in industrial relations extends beyond routine collective bargaining, grievance handling and conciliation to dealing with complex restructuring issues, judicial management and liquidation cases as well disputes sent for arbitration.

He represented the Labour Movement on various bodies including the National Wages Council, tripartite committees including the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices, and labour social enterprises including the NTUC Media Co-operative and Educare Co-operative Limited. He is the President of the International Metalworkers’ Federation – Singapore Council.

Cyrille Tan was the top student in the institute’s pioneering diploma in industrial relations intake of 1990. He went on to complete his Bachelor of Science. Mr Tan served as the Labour Movement’s Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) from 1997-1999. He was conferred the Public Service Medal and Service Star in 1999 and 2006 respectively.
 

2. Mr Thomas Tay

Mr Thomas Tay started his involvement with Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) in 1977 and rose up to be General Secretary in 1978, a position he has held until today. He was the Vice President of the NTUC (1998-2011) and a NTUC Central Committee Member since 1991. Known for his active involvement in voicing and protecting the welfare of seafarers locally and internationally, Mr Tay was appointed as a member of the Board of Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA); Member of the Maritime Industry Advisory Committee; and has been active in the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

He served as a member of the ITF Executive Board from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he was elected as the first Asian Vice-Chairman of the ITF Seafarers Section. In 2000, he was re-elected as the 1st Vice Chairman of the ITF Seafarers Section and Member of the ITF Seafarers Trust. He is also a member of the ITF Fair Practice Committee since 1986.

At NTUC, Mr Tay was Chairman of the NTUC Skills Development Committee; Trustee of the NTUC Childcare Co-operative; and Board member in various social enterprises. For his services to the Labour Movement, Mr Tay was awarded the Public Service Medal in 1999.

3. Mr Teo Yock Ngee

Mr Teo Yock Ngee, a stalwart union leader of more than 25 years, was earlier conferred the OTC Institute’s third fellowship on 8 January 2011. He became the institute’s first fellow from the public sector division. Mr Teo has served in the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) from 1984 to 2011. He became the General Secretary of AUPE in October 2001. He was concurrently the Executive Director of the AUPE Group comprising the Union, three Co-operatives and the AUPE Sports and Recreation Club and Chairman of the AUPE Multi-Purpose Co-operative and Foundation Co-operative.

Under his leadership, the AUPE has greatly enhanced its ties with the public sector. Mr Teo’s efforts in promoting good industrial relations between AUPE and the public sector leadership in Departments, Ministries and Statutory Boards included establishing various channels of communication like works committees; regular dialogue sessions; as well as the forging of shared vision statements to facilitate better
interaction and understanding.

At the national level, Mr Teo was a key appointment holder as Secretary for Financial Affairs in the NTUC Central Committee. He is a member of the high level NTUC Industrial Relations and Membership Councils and the NTUC Administration & Research Unit’s Board of Trustees. Mr Teo was also Chairman of the NTUC Industrial Relations Public Sector Committee. He has represented the NTUC in the National Wages Council and the Employee Panel of the Industrial Arbitration Court. Mr Teo served on NTUC FairPrice Co-operative’s Board of Directors (2000-2009) and is presently a Board member of the NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative Board, the NTUC Investment Co-operative and the NTUC Learning Hub Ltd. Mr Teo was Labour Movement’s Nominated Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2006.

On the international front, Mr Teo occupied several leadership positions in the Public Services International (PSI) including being Co-Chair Titular Member of the PSI; Titular Member of Asia-Pacific Regional Executive Committee; and, 2nd Substitute Titular Member of the PSI Executive Board. He also served as a Member of the PSI’s Public Sector Steering Group (the think tank of PSI) from 2002 to 2008.

For his contributions to the Labour Movement and service to the community at large, Mr Teo was conferred the Public Service Medal in 2006 by the Singapore Government.
 

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