Two well-known names in Singapore labour relations topped the list of May Day honours announced at last night's May Day Dinner.
The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2012
The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2012
Toh Yong Chuan speaks to NTUC president emeritus John de Payva (right) and Manpower Ministry senior director Ong Yen Her, who were both given the highest Distinguished Service (Star) Award.
Retired NTUC president with unfinished business
WHEN Mr John De Payva read the recent news of professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) being laid off, he pulled out a folder kept in his drawer for 22 years.
WHEN Mr John De Payva read the recent news of professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) being laid off, he pulled out a folder kept in his drawer for 22 years.
It holds the Constitution of a national union for executives drawn up in 1990.
'At that time, I wanted to form a national union to represent executives... It is still in my mind,' he said.
Such a union would help PMEs cope better with economic restructuring, Mr De Payva said.
He allowed The Straits Times to take a peek into the folder last week. In it was a shortlist of three names for the union. One of them was United and National Combination of Local Executives of Singapore, or Uncles, he said with a laugh.
After retiring last year as NTUC's longest-serving president, Mr De Payva was appointed president emeritus to continue representing NTUC's interest in various international labour organisations.
He remains the secretary-general of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), Singapore's biggest union representing some 83,000 workers. He has held the post since 1988.
He remains the secretary-general of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), Singapore's biggest union representing some 83,000 workers. He has held the post since 1988.
While his travel schedule has not eased, the veteran unionist said that he remains more fired up by local issues that affect workers.
One is the legal barrier that prevents NTUC's rank-and-file unions from fully representing executives.
'If we keep saying that executives and managers cannot join rank-and-file unions, then that part of the tripartite composite, the government part, ought to wake up,' he said.
He felt that the labour movement would lose its relevance if it cannot effectively represent the swelling ranks of PMEs.
In 2002, the Industrial Relations Act was updated to allow rank-and-file unions to represent executives, but in only three areas: unfair dismissals, disputes in retrenchment benefits and breaches in employment contracts. Also, the unions can represent executives only as individuals and not as a group, because they do not have collective-bargaining rights.
The problems that PMEs face is one of two issues that still bothers Mr De Payva. The other is low-wage workers. While he supports the productivity drive to boost their wages, he hopes to see companies step up the pace at which they share productivity gains with workers.
The NTUC said in its citation that the May Day award recognises Mr De Payva's 'long and dedicated leadership' in the labour movement.
Mr De Payva was surprised by the award, because he thought that the Meritorious Service Medal he received during National Day last year was 'the climax'.
Still, he described the May Day award as 'a touching presentation, more emotional and personal' because of his ties with the labour movement since joining the SMMWU in 1971.
He was reluctant to say which award was more important to him, but when pressed over which he would bring on a hypothetical trip to the moon, he said: 'The May Day award will be the first thing I will bring.'
The civil servant who sorted out Singapore's last strike
TWENTY-SIX years have passed since the last workers' strike in Singapore, but Mr Ong Yen Her remembers it well.
'The strike was very significant... it changed the perception that strikes are not permitted in Singapore,' Mr Ong told The Straits Times.
On Jan2, 1986, 61 workers from American oilfield equipment company Hydril punched in for work at their Gul Circle factory after the New Year public holiday. But instead of starting work, they walked out and picketed outside the factory, ending a nine-year spell in which Singapore was free from strikes.
Three days earlier, on Dec30, 1985, they had taken a vote at their union office - the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees Union - and had decided unanimously on a walkout after the New Year to protest against anti-union activities by the company.
Mr Ong, who was then director of labour relations in the Labour Ministry, was called in to mediate between the union and the company.
He was a newly minted director. It had been barely a year since he returned to the ministry after serving a six-year stint as head of industrial relations in the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
He remembers the strong emotions among the workers. 'They felt aggrieved with the unfair dismissal of several union leaders.'
In the run-up to the strike, the company axed six union leaders because they were allegedly unproductive.
Both unionists and company executives turned up at the Labour Ministry for talks, but they were holed up separately while Mr Ong shuttled between them.
He recalls not being able to sew up a deal on the spot because the company executives 'had to get approval from their Houston HQ'.
The company eventually agreed to reinstate a union leader and compensate the rest. The workers called off their strike on Jan 4.
When asked for his thoughts on the walkout, Mr Ong said: 'The union's action was drastic but justified, because the workers felt victimised.'
He was, however, quick to add that he does not advocate industrial action.
After resolving the strike, Mr Ong went on to helm the ministry's industrial relations team for another 25 years. He retired after turning 64 last year and has since been re-employed in a mentoring role.
The NTUC credits Mr Ong's 'sense of diplomacy' and 'quick response' for ending the two-day Hydril strike.
It added in a citation: 'Under his strong leadership, Singapore has enjoyed a strike-free industrial relations climate since 1986.'
Mr Ong, in his typical straight-talking manner, downplayed his contributions.
He gave four reasons why Singapore remained strike-free. They are: the legal framework allows disputes to be resolved; the unions are constructive and responsible; companies have become more 'enlightened'; and the strong three-way partnership between employers, the NTUC and the Government at the national level.
On the May Day award, he said: 'This award is a recognition of the strong tripartite partnership... and I am privileged to be able to play a part in the partnership.'
On the May Day award, he said: 'This award is a recognition of the strong tripartite partnership... and I am privileged to be able to play a part in the partnership.'
Although Singapore remained strike-free during his watch, he disclosed that there were some occasions where unionists threatened industrial action during talks with company executives.
He said that it involved SIA, but would not be drawn into specific details.
When asked how long he hopes to see Singapore strike-free, he replied without hesitation: 'For as long as possible.'
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