By Fawwaz Baktee
In 1963, as a young man in his mid-20s, Mr Lurdu Nathan stood in solidarity with his postal and telecommunications comrades as a striker to demand a raise in wages from their employer.
Twenty years later, in October 1982, Mr Nathan found himself becoming a union leader when the Post Office Savings Bank Employee’s Union (POSBEU) was formed with the backing of then NTUC Secretary-General Lim Chee Onn. POSBEU is today known as DBS Staff Union.
Mr Nathan eventually became the first among equals as a result of a unanimous vote at the union’s first general meeting. For 10 years, since the creation of the union until his retirement in 1992 at the age of 55, Mr Nathan helmed the position of General Secretary unopposed.
NTUCtw: Share with us one incident that you remember most as General Secretary?
Mr Lurdu: In 1984, there was one incident when a member came to me and complained that the post master was rude and unreasonable. So I went down to have a look at the situation myself. I looked on from afar and observed the post master and found that my member’s grievances were valid.
I went to see the deputy general manager and told him of the complaint I received. I requested for him to take action on the post master on behalf of my member.
If I could help my members, I tried my very best to do so. I could empathise with my members. I’ve been in their position before so I could understand how they felt being treated like that. If my members were unhappy, then I too was unhappy.
PMEs and the Labour Movement. Your take?
When I was the General Secretary of POSBEU, I made sure all the employees became union members. This of course excluded the top management. From those working on the ground to the middle management, they were all our members. But for many other unions in those days, the middle management employees were left out.
NTUC is moving in the correct direction by bringing PMEs in. We need to continue to educate and open the hearts and minds of the top management. They must accept that the unions must play a constructive role to help PMEs.
They must understand that the unions are coming in to better the lives of all workers, regardless of their designation at work. Unions are not interested in being an impediment to the success of companies. We are here to benefit companies by enhancing the industrial environment.
What message do you have for unionists in the Labour Movement today?
I want to see them move forward and progress. Obstacles will certainly come from time to time, but they must have the courage to overcome them. Continue with the good tripartite relations we have. Never let differences stop us from working together to help improve the lives of our workers and the country. Good tripartite relations has brought progress to Singapore, and it will continue to bring us success. Never forget that.
Source: NTUC This Week
