By Geraldine Peters
At the age of 19 in 1963, Mr Fauzie Omar Altway kick-started his career with Natsteel Singapore as a furnace operator. From there, circumstances led him to becoming one of NatSteel Employees’ Union’s (NEU) co-founders and its General Secretary 1966 onwards. After having served the union for more than 50 years, he is now the union’s First Assistant General Secretary and Mentor.
NTUC This Week: Tell me about our company situation pre-union.
Being a young furnace operator at that time, my fellow workers and I were in a gruelling rotation shift, so naturally tensions began between workers and management when the former started requesting for housing and transport allowances in 1963. The request was granted, but in reverse of what we wanted as the further we stayed, the lower we were given as the management wanted workers to move to Jurong, where Natsteel was and still is located. Negotiations after were not going anywhere, as even the arbitration court did not work, so we finally went on strike in 1964.
Is that what started your union journey?
Yes, as it was unpleasant for the workers as they could not understand why their requests were not granted. It was then that I got interested in unionism as I wanted to understand why as well and help them in return. It certainly makes you think, and think we did, as it was then that we decided to start a union. But all were worried initially, but I reassured them that we shall find a good chairman. So I scoped out my electrician friend at that time, now President Mr Chew Chee Leong, and I asked him if he was willing. So with him and a few other volunteers, NEU was created.
Any memorable instances from your union experience?
It was between 1980 and 1984 that I was not allowed to serve union as I had risen from a rank-and-file worker to that of a Safety Executive. I still contributed but not in any tangible way. So in 1985, my fellow members made a formal request that I can re-enter, and re-enter I did. That was the first time, to my knowledge, that such an exception was made. I was very, very touched and it also set the pace for many rank-and-file workers to move up comfortably. That is also what I think is so unique about my union. It was always one that adopted negotiation to make something happen – strongly bipartite in nature before tripartism entered the framework.
How would you describe your union journey thus far?
Interesting. It has always been interesting, because union work is interesting in itself but one has to bear in mind that there will always be difficulties along the way, and challenges to overcome.
Source: NTUC ThisWeek
