“Why should I join NTUC when there are other privilege cards with benefits which are more aligned to my preferences?”
Union leaders and recruiters often face this question as they go about their membership and recruitment efforts.
Some potential members may only see the value of NTUC membership in the lifestyle benefits that the card offers.
This was brought up at the workshop during the dialogue with three Advisors of NTUC Membership's ORC and they reiterated that there is more to union membership than the benefits that the NTUC card brings.
Mr Teo Yock Ngee said that it is important to have an understanding of the Labour Movement and that it “is not about comparison of how good the card is and what the card can give you.”
Unlike other privilege cards, NTUC membership comes with workplace representation and access to resolve Industrial Relations (IR) issues.
“Being a part of the Labour Movement as union leaders or union members, it is our duty to tell them that in this movement, when needed, you have your protection.
“You have people to speak up for you and to represent you in times of need and in difficulties,” reminded Mr Teo.
An example of such representation is during a retrenchment and Mr Cyrille Tan cited a case where a company was unable to fulfil their payments to their retrenched workers.
He emphasised that at the end of the day, the Labour Movement is about representing the working class people in Singapore.
Mr Tan Chai Kun added that recruiters should not only tell potential members about the benefits from NTUC’s Social Enterprises and other merchants, but they should also talk about IR issues.
He said: “When it comes to negotiation of wage increases, bonus, variable bonus and all this, who is doing this? It’s the union officials; it’s the union.”
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