When the People’s Action Party (PAP) holds its annual convention, party activists often take the stage to share their work in the PAP before the Secretary-General speaks to the attendees.
This year, the honour was also given to an activist from the Labour Movement - David Tay from the Creative Media and Publishing Union, who has a desire to strengthen the symbiotic relationship with PAP to advance labour causes.
He spoke on the importance of the symbiotic ties between the PAP and NTUC and has some ideas on how these relations can be brought forward and further strengthened.
Mr Tay, 35, has been with the Labour Movement since joining nEbO in 2007. He was part of a 5-person Young NTUC committee team passionate about workers.
The teaching specialist at a local media company also helps out at Meet-the-People sessions at Tampines Changkat and attends PAP policy forums.
Moving Forward
When the Labour Movement held the NTUC Modernisation Seminar in 1969 , it pledged to move beyond wage bargaining and become PAP’s symbiotic partner in nation-building.
Fast forward to 2017, Mr Tay says Singaporeans cannot rely on the goodwill of the past to carry on the NTUC-PAP symbiotic ties into the future.
“NTUC unionists and PAP activists must strengthen this bond for a stronger Singapore. The veterans fought hand in hand and we need to do the same,” he emphasised.
Suggestions
Mr Tay suggested that unionists and PAP activists get more involved in each other’s leadership training process such as having an induction programme for unionists to learn about the PAP, and vice versa.
He also recommended joint learning journeys and exchange programmes. Unionists could also be involved in Meet-the-People sessions at the constituencies while PAP activists could help out at union events.
“Let’s embark on a journey to ignite a new wave of personal relationships between NTUC and PAP activists at every level so we can all bring our symbiotic relationship to even greater heights. And together, we will be able to build bridges to all Singaporeans to win hearts and minds daily,” concluded Mr Tay.
Source: NTUC This Week
