Ong Teng Cheong Institute Appoints Third Fellow

The Ong Teng Cheong Institute (OTC Institute) has awarded its third Fellowship to a stalwart union leader of more than 25 years.

The appointment of Mr Teo Yock Ngee as an OTC Institute Fellow was announced at the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees’ (AUPE) Quadrennial Delegates Conference (QDC) on 8 January 2011. Mr Teo is currently the General Secretary of AUPE, and the Secretary for Financial Affairs of NTUC. (See Annex 1 for Mr Teo’s citation.)

The OTC Institute Fellowship is conferred by the OTC Institute Board of Governors on outstanding retired unionists identified by NTUC. Recognising that these union leaders still have much to contribute to the workers’ cause, the Fellowship was launched so as to tap the deep knowledge and wide experiences of leaders to coach and guide the next generation of union leaders.

The OTC Institute Fellowship will tap these retired union leaders’ experience and expertise to further leadership development through sharing of their experiences, chairing of dialogues, mentoring younger leaders, supporting OTC Institute and NTUC’s leadership development efforts. OTC Institute Fellows are appointed for a one-year period subject to re-appointment on an annual basis.

The first two OTC Institute Fellowships were presented in November 2010 to two veteran union leaders: Mr Victor Pang Koon Seah, former General Secretary of Singapore Airport Terminal Services Workers’ Union; and Mr Thomas Thomas, former General Secretary of the Singapore Shell Employees Union.

ANNEX 1

Citation on Brother Teo Yock Ngee for OTCi Fellowship

Brother Teo Yock Ngee has served in the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) since 1984 and became the General Secretary in October 2001. He is concurrently the Executive Director (Administrative and Management) of the AUPE Group comprising the Union, 3 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. Bro Teo’s many efforts in promoting good industrial relations between AUPE and the public sector leadership in Departments, Ministries and Statutory Boards include establishing various channels of communication like works committees; regular dialogue sessions; and, the forging of shared vision statements to facilitate better interaction and understanding.

At the national level, Brother Teo is 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 ARU’s Board of Trustees. Bro Teo is 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. Bro Teo served on NTUC FairPrice Cooperative’s Board of Directors (2000-2009) and is presently a Board member of the NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative Board, the NTUC Investment Cooperative and the NTUC LearningHub Ltd. Bro Teo Yock Ngee was Labour’s Nominated Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2006.

On the international front, Bro Teo Yock Ngee occupies 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, Brother Teo Yock Ngee was conferred the Public Service Medal in 2006 by the Singapore Government.

In recognition of outstanding contribution to the labour movement and exemplary leadership qualities, we hereby appoint Brother Teo Yock Ngee Fellow of the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute.