Good evening the Executive Council of the Chemical Industries Employees’ Union (CIEU), fellow comrades, distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen.
1. I am happy to be here today at the CIEU Charity Dinner, dedicated to raising funds to help members who are less fortunate, who need financial assistance from us. Thank you for inviting me.
2. How do we help our members? What makes unions different from other organisations?
Helping the Members
3. There are many membership-based organisations around us. There are many social clubs with membership programmes. Many banks run their credit card programmes like membership programmes too. Unions have members. So what makes the union special? There are many things that make us special. Unions are dedicated to improving the lives of workers, improving their conditions of work, ensuring that they are fairly and justly treated. We have gone beyond that, to help them stretch their hard-earned wages, and we help those who cannot make ends meet. In doing so, we develop a sense of comradeship, the sense of mutual help. We must not lose sight on this as we grow in numbers.
SLF Gift Plus
4. Instead, we must constantly use our membership numbers to do more for members. “Unity is strength” – that is the maxim that we operate by. That is why we stress “solidarity”.
5. One of the portable benefits that we have developed is the SLF Gift Plus. It is an insurance cover for death and disability. It is a benefit that is aimed to help members get covered by insurance when they unfortunately meet with an accident outside work and especially when they are in-between jobs. The SLF Gift Plus is funded by the 13th month payment that all union members contribute every year. In addition, their unions pay $2 per member for SLF Gift Plus. Last year, SLF Gift Plus paid out $2.4 million ($2,193,750 in FY02/03, $2,449,750 in FY03/04 and $2,402,638 in FY04/05).
6. Over the past three years, CIEU has made a total of 20 death and disability claims for its members with SLF Gift Plus, amounting to close to $215,000.
7. SLF Gift Plus has been a very helpful insurance scheme. All union members are covered, even when they are in-between jobs, as long as they remained a union member. We also review the SLF Gift Plus regularly to ensure that it remains useful.
8. It is encouraging to see that on top of SLF Gift Plus, CIEU has also given $86,000 worth of bursary and education grants, $64,500 worth of public transport assistance vouchers and $29,000 worth of NTUC FairPrice vouchers to the lower income members. That is why CIEU raises funds from time to time to be able to extend such help to union members.
$100,000 Raised for Hardship Grant
9. CIEU has not forgotten those amongst its membership base who needs help. I am glad to hear that with this Charity Dinner, CIEU has managed to raise close to $100,000 for the union’s Hardship grants which target to assist these lower income members. A job well done!
10. While the grant will come in handy for those in need, we should also not forget that many of times, a pair of listening ears and some sincere words of concern and encouragement can go the extra mile for those who need help.
Leadership Renewal
11. Let me next touch on the issue of leadership renewal.
12. Leadership sounds like a big word. It is a topic that is very wide. If you “Google” the word “leadership” on the internet, there are 168 million returns. On the other hand, a search on “leadership renewal” only returned 975 pages! It would appear as though leadership renewal is not an important topic, or is it because it is such a sensitive topic that not many people talk about it?
13. I think we should make no mistake that leadership renewal is an important component in the strategy of any organisation that aims to build a sustainable future. There are many possible reasons for the apparent lack of materials written on “leadership renewal”. It is not much use to speculate on the reasons. Let me say that while it is tempting to stay in control for as long as possible, every leader who does so would only risk putting his organisation in danger!
Leadership Renewal a Responsibility to Members
14. As a leader of the union, it is our responsibility to those we stand to represent that we ensure that union continues to grow. It is our duty to ensure that while we give our best to serving the organisation, we also attract and groom capable leaders of the next generation to carry the organisation further forward. It is not an easy task and definitely not something that can be done overnight.
15. Staff development at NTUC is an on-going exercise. We look at the pipeline of staff who have the potential to move to higher responsibilities, and provide them with the training. At the highest level, we have also prepared for succession for the position of Secretary-General. It is going smoothly.
16. It is heartening to know that CIEU has made progress in leadership renewal. It has managed to achieve its target of 20% renewal of branch officials. I am told that the average age of the branch officials is now younger, at 42, compared to 44 if there has been no renewal. I understand that there will be some renewal at the level of the Executive Council of the union. With 30% of your members under the age of 35, it is important to have a group of young leaders who can represent their views and to voice their problems at the union’s level.
17. I would encourage CIEU leaders to continue steadfast in its journey of leadership renewal.
18. The union will have to ensure that it continues to retain and attract members. From the members, activists are identified. From the activists, leaders emerge. Through their collective efforts, the union is strengthened and grows, helping members and touching the lives of those they serve. The leaders give their best to those they serve, before stepping aside graciously for the next generation of leaders to carry on. The cycle continues, reinforcing the strength of the union and sustaining a healthy renewal of leadership. It is our duty as leaders to make this happen.
19. When you continue to have able and good leadership, then your members will be well taken care of.
I wish all of you a pleasant evening.
Thank you.
