The past year saw The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) step up efforts to reach out to its PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives) members by launching Pro-U, the union’s PME chapter.
The chapter aims to engage PMEs through social and recreational activities, professional development, workplace rights and industrial relations issues.
“We will do this without losing sight of the interest of our rank-and file members,” said SMMWU Vice-President Raymond Neo at the union’s Annual Dinner recently.
Last year, SMMWU also continued to help workers upgrade their skills and remain employable in future.
Guest of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean cited an example where SMMWU and its branch Courts (Singapore) Private Limited along with NTUC's e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) worked together as part of the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) to improve productivity and customer satisfaction.
It resulted in 224 of the local staff at the company slated to enjoy an eight to 11 per cent increase from their current base salary.
The event also gave a special appreciation to SMMWU Advisor Dr Seet Ai Mee who relinquished her role as an advisor to the union, after serving for 23 years since 1989.
Outstanding Leaders’ Awards
Nine Branch Officials were also honoured with the Outstanding Leaders’ Awards to celebrate their exemplary dedication towards the Labour Movement and its causes. They were:
Charles Arokiasamy (Branch Chairman, Consumers Association of Singapore)
Karen Kang (Branch Secretary, Singapore Zoological Gardens)
Susanna Koh (Branch Secretary, Maybank Kim Eng Securities Private Limited)
Lim Kian Peng (Branch Secretary, Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore)
Md Hanifar Md A.K.M. (Branch Chairman, Mitsubishi Elevators (Singapore) Private Limited)
Susan Ng (Branch Secretary, BHG (Singapore) Private Limited)
Jennifer Png (Branch Treasurer, Nestlé Singapore Private Limited)
Seah Seow Cher (Branch Secretary, Babcock Communications Limited)
Dickson Wee (Branch Chairman, Fuji Xerox Singapore Private Limited)
