Here are some brief facts about the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) which was established in 1959 and registered in 1964 to represent public sector employees.
Today it has more than 20,000 members.
#1 Public service workers were paid 50 cents a day
Public service workers in the early days from the 1800s till the 1950s were very lowly paid. In the 1940s, they could expect to receive as little as 50 cents for each day of work.
There were many unions representing different groups of public service workers then, but there was a need for a louder voice.
In 1959, AUPE was formed through the amalgamation of nine unions. Among them were the Singapore Union of Postal & Telecommunications Workers, the Singapore Telephone Board Employees Union and the Singapore Laboratory Technicians Union.
#2 Restoring pay cuts in the 1960s
Shortly after its formation, AUPE negotiated directly with the Government over pay-cut restoration especially for the lower-paid workers. The effort paid off in 1961 when the Government announced the restoration of the cuts.
# 3 Setting up a credit co-op
As public service workers were lowly paid then, they faced financial difficulties both in borrowing money to tide through difficult times and saving enough for their families.
AUPE started the AUPE Credit Co-operative in 1965 to help its members and offered loans at low interest rates and high returns on savings. This helped save many members from financial embarrassment.
#4 PM Lee Kuan Yew officially opened Wisma AUPE
If you drive along Upper Paya Lebar Road, you will notice the building called Wisma AUPE. That’s actually the headquarters of the union.
Plans for AUPE to have its own headquarters began in 1962 and a building fund was started to raise funds for the project. Wisma AUPE was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
At the official opening on 2 April 1972, Mr Lee announced that an unprecedented 13th month would be paid to all civil servants from that year.
#5 $4 million given to members’ children so far
Children of union members at AUPE have been benefitting from its study awards since 1980. So far close to $4 million has been disbursed to help members defray their children’s school fees or education costs.
The union has also been focusing its attention on upskilling and helping its members stay relevant and employable amid technological advancements.
AUPE has worked with its management partners to bring the SkillsFuture Credit Connect workshops to more than 800 public employees.
Next on the cards, the SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace and U Future Leaders Exchange workshops for more members.
