Photos by Zheng Yihui
The year was 1984 when Yeo Chun Fing stepped up to be a union leader with the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE), and the first task for the then 27-year-old was producing the union’s newsletter.
In the 35 years since, the union and Labour Movement has become something of a second home for him as his involvement deepened with numerous roles and appointments.
In an interview with NTUC This Week back in July 2017, Mr Yeo shared how the union's efforts over the years have evolved with a changing workforce demographic. "We have succeeded in persuading the managements of several statutory boards to allow more of the higher grades of officers to be represented by AUPE and will continue to do so," he said.
Aware of the need to remain relevant amid an ever-changing work landscape, Mr Yeo has always been an advocate of training and upgrading.
"We work with different agencies to conduct training sessions with the help of NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) to cascade the message of upskilling and being future ready. For lower-wage workers, most of whom are in the Education Ministry like the school attendants, we worked with the Public Service Division (PSD) on a job redesign project in 2014 to rescope their jobs and extend their salary ranges. Since then, 820 out of 2,000 officers have been promoted in the recent three years to higher grades," he recounted.
Come 9 February 2019, Mr Yeo will be flowing on from the NTUC Central Committee where he serves as assistant secretary for financial affairs.
[Read More: Face 2 Face with Yeo Chun Fing]
A Big Thank You
In appreciation of his contributions, NTUC President Mary Liew and Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng penned a letter of thanks to Mr Yeo. The letter was presented to him during the NTUC Central Committee meeting on 29 January 2019.
This is what the letter said:
Dear Chun Fing,
On behalf of the Labour Movement, we would like to thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions to the Labour Movement in protecting the rights and advancing the interests of our workers in Singapore. For over 30 years as a union leader, you have served selflessly in various NTUC committees and councils, NTUC-nominated committees and in 2015, you took up a higher calling to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Affairs in the NTUC Central Committee. Your unwavering commitment to serve our workers has inspired many union leaders to step up and do more.
As the Chairman of the NTUC Care and Share Committee, the Industrial Relations Committee (Public Sector), the Public Service Cluster as well as the Stewardship and Governance Committee; the Treasurer of the NTUC50 Development Fund and the Ong Teng Cheong Education Trust Fund as well as your involvement in other councils and committees, you always look at how we can do more to improve the lives of our workers and their families.
At the national level, your insights as a panel member in the Industrial Arbitration Court, a member of the National Wages Council and the Mercatus Co-operative Limited Board, as well as a Tripartite Mediation Advisor over the last few years has advanced the standing and the work of the Labour Movement.
Throughout your years with us, you have been a champion for our workers, especially those in the public service sector; and for that, we are deeply appreciative of the impact you have made. Even as you step down as the Secretary for Financial Affairs on 9 February 2019, on behalf of the Central Committee and the Labour Movement, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours as you continue to serve as the First Substitute of the Regional General Council of the International Trade Union Confederation and the Treasurer of the NTUC-U Care Board of Trustees, and remember, you will always be a part of the Labour Movement.
