The Labour Movement celebrates National Day!
26 July 2007
Media Release
1 This year’s National Day promises to be a fun-filled and exciting celebration for the Labour Movement as we gather to celebrate Singapore’s 42nd birthday in a big and inclusive way. More than 15,000 union members and leaders, their families, friends and management representatives are expected to participate in various celebratory activities organised in August by the Labour Movement to show their love for our nation.
Key Highlights
2 One of the Labour Movement’s key celebratory activities - the formation of the largest human Singapore flag at the Padang - will be held on 9 August 2007. Additionally, National Day Parade (NDP) enthusiasts in the Labour Movement will put their best foot forward as members of the NTUC marching contingent at the NDP. As the NDP is held at the Marina Bay for the first time, NTUC staff and their families will have an excellent opportunity to view the NDP and fireworks from One Marina Boulevard’s rooftop garden. And as a reflection of the strong labour-management relations in Singapore, various unions, together with their managements and workers, will celebrate National Day together in 20 National Day Observance Ceremonies held throughout the month of August.
Largest Human Singapore Flag
3 The formation of the largest human Singapore flag at the Padang on National Day afternoon is one of the Labour Movement’s key National Day celebration activities. Known as the “Young NTUC Celebrates! National Day 2007”, the Labour Movement will attempt to draw a target of more than 9,600 participants, consisting union members and leaders, staff of NTUC and co-operatives, and their families and friends, in order to break Singapore’s previous record of the largest human flag formed. The record-breaking attempt will be witnessed by adjudicators from the Singapore Book of Records and if successful, will be recognised in the 2008 Singapore Book of Records.
4 Organised by the Young NTUC, this largest human Singapore flag activity serves to bring all NTUC-affiliated unions, associations, co-operatives and related organisations together to celebrate National Day in a big way. Mrs Josephine Teo, Director of NTUC’s Youth Development Unit and advisor to Young NTUC said, “The Padang is a very special place. It is where Singaporeans witnessed the first-ever National Day Parade in 1966. The Parade has changed in format but the spirit remains the same – that of being ready to stand up and be counted, of working together to create a better future for the people we love. Our Labour Movement has played an important part in the Singapore success story. So, it is only fitting that we have returned to the Padang in a big way, and to join hands to form the Singapore flag. It's our way of saying "Count on us, Singapore!"
5 As the largest human Singapore flag formation activity is one of the official National Day Festival events, the Young NTUC has received strong support from the main National Day Celebrations Committee. (Please see http://www.ndp.org.sg/celebrations/national_day_fest/23_may/human-flag.html for more details) The committee will provide a National Day Celebrations Drawstring Gift Pack for each participant at the Padang, while Young NTUC will provide a striped zipper bag, a mini Singapore flag, a groundsheet, clappers and a colourful torch. Additionally, the committee has made available a venue for one of the human flag rehearsals as well as manpower support on the actual day.
6 Two rehearsals – held on 30 June (at the Padang) and 22 July 2007 (at Nee Soon Camp) – have been organised by Young NTUC in preparation for the record-breaking attempt. More than 2,000 enthusiastic participants of all ages turned up for each of the rehearsals. With these rehearsals, Young NTUC hopes that participants will be able to form the largest Singapore human flag in the shortest time possible and perform coordinated displays with the human flag. The human flag will be formed using specially-produced umbrellas of red and white colours. Each participant will be given one umbrella, which has a diameter of about 1 metre, designed to cover the standing space allocated to each participant and to shelter them from the elements. (Please see ANNEX for more details)
7 During the human flag event, which is also a National Day Observance Ceremony (NDOC) in itself, participants will sing the National Anthem and recite the National Pledge together with the NTUC Central Committee and Labour Members of Parliament. Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General, NTUC, and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, will also be present to kick-off the human Singapore flag formation. Participants will also be able to watch the NDP proceedings ‘live’ via a large LED screen and the fireworks display at the end of the NDP at the Padang. Preparations for the human flag event started in May 2007 and has since created a buzz among many of the participants (Please see some of their quotes below).
NTUC Marching Contingent for National Day Parade
8 Since the first NDP held in 1966, the Labour Movement has always been invited to participate in the Parade and Ceremony segment of the NDP. This year is no exception. NTUC will send a marching contingent, consisting of 74 members (10 as reserve) aged between 25 to 63 years. The NTUC marching contingent will be led by contingent commander, Mr Peter Kwek Boon Chwee, First Assistant General Secretary of the National Transport Workers’ Union.
Union-Management National Day Observance Ceremonies
9 In addition to the NDOC held at the human flag event at the Padang, various unions and their respective managements will also be organising 20 separate NDOCs involving a total of more than 6,000 union leaders, management representatives and workers, in the month of August. These NDOCs are organised in various sectors ranging from public transport, petroleum, shipbuilding, chemical, construction to healthcare. These union-management NDOCs reflect the strong bipartite partnership that has helped Singapore grow to become what it is today.
“Live” View of National Day Parade
10 With One Marina Boulevard (OMB), which houses NTUC Centre, standing tall at the Marina Bay in full view of the NDP venue, the Staff Union of NTUC ARU (Administration and Research Unit) will arrange for about 100 staff and their families to view the NDP ‘live’ from OMB’s rooftop garden. They will have the opportunity to watch the NDP aerial and water displays, and the fireworks from the 30th storey vantage point, as they celebrate National Day together with all Singaporeans.
11 The Labour Movement wishes Singaporeans a Happy National Day!
Ms Shona Tan
Director
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
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Quotes on the Largest Human Singapore Flag Event
Ms Lim Lee Lee, in her 30s, visually handicapped, said “My friend called me when she first heard about this human flag event organised by Young NTUC. We were excited to be able to celebrate National Day still as we did not manage to get any tickets for the NDP. I have always felt proud to be a Singaporean, and I think we are blessed to be born here. I do hope though, that more will be done for people with disabilities like me. I really thank Young NTUC for allowing me to be part of the event.”
Ms Teo Shu Hui, 19, student, said, “I was at one of the human flag rehearsals, and had real fun like everyone else. I am looking forward to the actual event at the Padang as I am sure that all of us will feel united as one nation and be proud to be Singaporeans. Happy Birthday Singapore!”
Ms Siti Norafizah, 25, teacher, said, “I believe that the human flag event will be exhilarating and I hope that the response on the actual day will be overwhelming so that more of us can celebrate National Day together! It was great that everyone put aside their differences and worked together as Team Singapore. Let us stay united and vigilant Singapore! Happy Birthday!”
Ms Choo Yanping, Industrial Relations Officer, Heathcare Services’ Employees Union (HSEU) said, “It was an interesting experience mobilising 250 union members from HSEU. It was really challenging coordinating and communicating across the various hospitals to garner their support for the human flag event. But seeing the excitement in the participants and creating the sense of belonging through our T-shirts and banner, to the Labour Movement and to the country, made the day for the working committee. Happy Birthday Singapore!”
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About Us
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions of workers in the industrial, service and public sectors representing about 480,000 workers in Singapore. It has 63 affiliated trade unions and six associations, as well as 12 social enterprises and three related organisations. NTUC’s objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of workers; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. Visit us at www.ntuc.org.sg.
Young NTUC
Young NTUC was launched on 30 April 2005. Formerly known as the NTUC Youth Committee, Young NTUC is the official youth wing of the National Trades Union Congress. With 135,000 members below 35 years old, Young NTUC is the largest youth movement in Singapore. Working with the youth chapters of the 63 NTUC-affiliated unions, we aim to reach out to the young workforce in Singapore, representing them as a voice and thus helping to advance the cause of the labour movement. Visit us at www.youngntuc.org.sg.
