The Labour Movement mourns the passing of an outstanding comrade, Brother Swithun Lowe
22 October 2007
Media Statement
1. With a deep sense of loss, the labour movement mourns the passing of Mr Swithun Lowe on 22 October 2007. Brother Swithun was a Member of the NTUC Central Committee, Senior Consultant to the Singapore Teachers’ Union (STU), and former General Secretary of STU.
2. A unionist for thirty-four years, Brother Swithun devoted a good part of his life and work to taking care of the interests of his fellow workers in the teaching profession and serving the cause of the labour movement. In STU and the labour movement, he was known and respected as a caring, compassionate individual who was unafraid to voice his views and fight for the welfare of teachers.
3. Brother Swithun served STU on a voluntary, part-time basis for several years. He soon realised that championing the cause of teachers was his calling. He became a full-time unionist with STU in 1973.
4. Over the years, Brother Swithun served STU as an elected official in various capacities. These included Assistant General Treasurer, Assistant General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary. In 2001, he was elected General Secretary of STU, a position which he served until July this year.
5. During his stewardship as General Secretary, Brother Swithun pushed for several notable projects for the teaching profession. Chief among these was the launch of EDUCARE Co-operative Limited in 2004, STU’s co-operative and business wing. EDUCARE expanded the range of educational activities and services for teachers in order to help them enhance the quality of their teaching, as well as their professional and social lives. The Teacher Assistants Scheme, in which Brother Swithun played an instrumental role, was introduced under the auspices of EDUCARE in 2004. Besides providing administrative assistance for teachers in and out of the classroom so that they could focus more on the professional aspects of teaching, the scheme also created new jobs in the education sector. Today, EDUCARE owns two subsidiary companies with businesses in supplying para-professionals to schools - Teacher Assistants and Co-curricular Programmes Executives. EDUCARE also provides education business consultancy.
6. In a clear endorsement of his leadership qualities and dedication to union work, Brother Swithun was elected to the labour movement’s highest governing body, the NTUC Central Committee, in 2000, and again in 2003.
7. In recognition of his contributions to the labour movement, Brother Swithun was awarded the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) on National Day 2006.
8. On July 2007, at STU’s Ordinary Delegates Conference, he stepped down as General Secretary of STU, making way for STU Deputy General Secretary Edwin Lye to take over the reins. Brother Swithun was a firm believer in leadership renewal and the need for STU to rejuvenate itself with new and younger leaders, in order to grow. He called on younger unionists to step forward to serve the union. His selflessness in stepping down to ensure a smooth and orderly change of leadership in STU was yet another manifestation of the quiet and steady altruism with which he went about his union work. He nevertheless continued to share his wealth of expertise and experience, giving guidance to his fellow union leaders as a Senior Consultant to STU.
9. Recognising the social and economic imperatives brought on by a longer life expectancy, Brother Swithun added his voice to those of his fellow union leaders in support of the recent changes to the CPF and the re-employment legislation. To Swithun, the way forward was clear – workers must be encouraged and given the opportunity to work longer so that they can accumulate a sufficient nest-egg for retirement. He was always one to speak up on issues close to his heart.
10. Brother Swithun had been battling with deteriorating health over the last month and passed away early this morning.
11. He was a unionist who served the cause of his fellow teachers and the labour movement with distinction. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered – as a comrade, friend and leader.
12. Brother Swithun, 61, leaves behind his wife, Tay Kim Swan, and three children.
John De Payva
NTUC President
Lim Swee Say
NTUC Secretary-General
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Please refer to ANNEX for the key appointments held and key awards received by Mr Swithun Lowe.
