By Naseema Banu Maideen
In every seven out of 10 companies that the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) has inked Collective Agreements with, the workers have enjoyed higher built-in wage increases. The union has worked together with its management partners in ensuring that low-wage workers benefit from the National Wages Council (NWC)’s recommendations for this year.
Of the 33 annual wage increment packages that UWEEI secured between January 2012 to August 2012, more than 70 per cent of the companies offered at least a $50 built-in wage increase for workers earning $1,000 and below as recommended by NWC. This move has benefitted a total of 4,500 workers from the unionised companies in the electronics and electrical industries.
This also made way for low-wage workers in companies organised by UWEEI to enjoy the highest average built-in wage increase in a decade of 4.8 per cent. This achievement is another on the record for the union as it celebrated its 31st anniversary at the Resorts World Sentosa on 14 September 2012.
With three decades of passionate service to members, UWEEI stands proud and strong with a membership base of over 59,000 in its fold.
Guest-of-Honour at the annual dinner, Deputy Prime Minister and UWEEI Council of Advisors Chairman Teo Chee Hean said this progress is possible because “it has been delivering value to both its members and its management partners over the years.” Reflecting on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech, DPM Teo also highlighted that UWEEI has had a sense of home, heart and hope in its journey, which has seen through the union’s achievements.
He added: “For us, we want to have a sense of home in Singapore and UWEEI and our partners can help us to create that because we want the companies who are here to feel at home... With a sense of home, we also have a sense of heart. We need to be big-hearted in Singapore, welcome people, work together with others and help one another. And this is what the UWEEI family has been very good at doing over the years.”
He cited the union’s tumultuous times during the periods of crisis and recollected its vision to work with management partners to save its members’ jobs by retraining them, in the process helping the businesses to survive and even pick up competitiveness in the upturn.
While it is “always much more difficult to create unity, a common vision and a common goal, a common spirit” in trying times like those, DPM Teo lauded UWEEI for working in harmony on the right direction. “Working together in unity, I am confident that all of us have a bright future ahead,” was his clear stand.
