The Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union (SISEU) has crossed the membership milestone of 60,000 members this year! This makes it the second largest union in Singapore. This good news was shared at the union’s 31st Annual Dinner and Dance on 9 November 2012 by Guest-of-Honour Josephine Teo, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport.
At the event, the former SISEU Executive Secretary highlighted that the union has also excelled in the area of leadership development and renewal, especially at the branch level, with one in three officials aged under 40, seven appointed to the Executive Committee (Exco), and 15 stepping down as key appointment holders to make way for new leaders. 28 branch officials and SISEU Council of Advisors members were also given awards at the event.
She said: “Tonight, I just want to applaud all our union leaders - new ones, present ones as well as those who are mentoring the younger ones. Congratulations to all of you! You have a challenging task ahead, an important task as well.”
SISEU President Tan Peng Heng added that the milestone leadership changes were made when the union elected its new Exco this year. It also implemented the leadership succession and renewal plan with an age limit for union leaders.
Moving Ahead
In light of the tightening of foreign manpower policy, MOS Teo pointed out that “productivity and innovation are the way to go” to help workers mitigate the cost of living and enjoy wages that can keep pace with inflation. Noting that productivity is making “good and steady progress”, she cited the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) administered by NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) as an example of a productivity initiative that has done well and disclosed that the Government has doubled the budget for e2i to keep up the good work.
She also commended e2i Acting CEO Gilbert Tan’s efforts in making IGP a success. MOS Teo urged SISEU to continue to engage companies to boost productivity and thanked management partners for their support in the productivity drive.
Mr Tan, meanwhile, cautioned the union against complacency and urged it to continue “to cover more workers and make our presence felt in other industries”. SISEU is currently stepping up its efforts to engage PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives) and welcome them into the fold.
Thank You Brother Ye Kung, Hello Sister Sylvia
At the event, MOS Josephine Teo and SISEU President Tan Peng Heng paid tribute to outgoing SISEU Executive Secretary Ong Ye Kung for his contributions to the union and welcomed Ms Sylvia Choo as the new Executive Secretary. Mr Ong, who was also NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, left the NTUC Administration and Research Unit on 25 November 2012 to pursue other career interests.
MOS Teo applauded Mr Ong for leading SISEU to hit the 60,000 membership target and said confidently that with Ms Choo at the helm, the union will meet its 70,000 membership mark.
Mr Tan commended Mr Ong’s efforts in strengthening Labour-Management Relations by striving to meet one branch every month, engaging management and members in union sports activities, and working towards engaging PMEs of their rights under the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act. He also praised Ms Choo for having “the talent and the determination to get anywhere she wants to go”.
