By Ramesh Subbaraman
The Union of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE) reached another milestone in its union work when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore Power to widen its reach on representing Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).
The MOU was signed during the 5th Quadrennial Delegate’s Conference of UPAGE on 11 August 2014, witnessed by NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, Speaker of Parliament Madam Halimah Yacob and the union advisor and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong.
UPAGE Executive Secretary S Thiagarajan said with the MOU, the Union can now represent PMEs on workplace grievances, including performance appraisal.
This is over and above what is already provided in the law like representations on issues concerning retrenchment, breach of contract, victimisation and termination.
UPAGE’s General Secretary RKS Nachiappan added that Singapore Power has given the union the green light to represent a higher group of people that it is representing today.
Currently, about 40% of workers in Singapore Power are PMEs and the union has reached out to nearly half of them.
Also announced at the Quadrennial Delegates Conference, UPAGE’s General Secretary RKS Nachiappan will be making way for his successor next year, when he reaches the age of 62.
Mr Nachiappan said the union has one year to search for the next General Secretary and some names are already up for consideration.
