09 Dec 2011
By: KOR KIAN BENG
THE National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) made history yesterday when it picked its first woman president since its formation 50 years ago: hospital nurse and veteran unionist Diana Chia.
As the highest-ranked unionist, Ms Chia, 55, will lead a younger and more diverse central committee (CC) tasked to meet the changing needs and expectations of workers over the next four years.
The new 21-member committee – the NTUC’s apex decision-making body – was elected from 22 nominees after a secret ballot by 381 unionists at the National Delegates Conference.
The new vice-presidents are Ms Nora Kang, 57; Mr K. Karthikeyan, 52; and Mr Edwin Lye, 41. The financial affairs secretary is Mr Lim Kuang Beng, 55.
Labour chief Lim Swee Say, 57, a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, remains the secretary-general, alongside deputies Heng Chee How, 50, and Ong Ye Kung, 42, and assistant Cham Hui Fong, 43.
At a press conference yesterday, Minister Lim described the new CC, which sees 10 newcomers, as an “inclusive” leadership.
He pointed out the four women and four non-Chinese on the slate, and the members’ age range – from the 30s to late 50s. The average age is 48.8 years old, down from 51.5 in the 2007 team.
The inclusiveness augurs well, said Minister Lim, adding that it will help the NTUC tackle the constant challenge of staying in tune with the concerns, anxieties and aspirations of workers from all job types, ages and income groups.
“So the labour leadership must reflect the composition of the labour force that we represent,” he added.
The CC will also have to reach out to a better-educated workforce, who want union leaders to be more vocal and visible in dealing with the Government and employers – a challenge identified of late by several veteran unionists.
Minister Lim yesterday revealed that his two deputies and assistant are potential successors, and added that his top priority over the next four years is to create more opportunities for them to gain experience and support among unionists.
“At the same time, we hope there will be more potential labour leaders to join us. So that... when it’s time for me to flow on, the labour leadership will have a good slate of candidates to choose from.”
The leadership changes follow the exit of 10 CC leaders, including its longest-serving president John De Payva, to make way for fresh blood and meet a new 62-year age limit.
Minister Lim said yesterday that the NTUC, in line with common practice overseas, has conferred the president emeritus title on Mr De Payva, in recognition of his contributions to the labour movement.
In that capacity, Mr De Payva will continue to represent the NTUC in the international labour arena. He is a member of the world executive bureau of the International Trade Union Confederation.
Sources said Minister Lim received the highest number of votes, followed by Mr Heng, Mr Ong, Ms Mary Liew - NTUC's nominee for Nominated MP - and Ms Cham.
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union president Komalavalli Pakirisamy, 41, was the only one unelected.
The new CC decided the posts among themselves. The Straits Times understands that no vote was called as each post saw only one candidate.
Port Officers' Union president Benjamin Tang, 35, one of those elected yesterday, believes his youth is not a hindrance and what matters most is the passion to speak up for workers of all ages.
Demonstrating this, he said more could be done for retiring union leaders who were seconded by their companies to the unions or served full time.
"They committed their years to union work. I know the NTUC has been helping them through the transition, but I believe we can do more," he said.
The other CC members are: Mr Terry Lee, 59; Mr Tan Hock Soon, 49; Mr Hassan Abdullah, 43; Mr Andy Lim, 35; Mr Ma Wei Cheng, 58; Mr Toh Hock Poh, 54; Mr Mohd Rasi Taib, 51; Mr Francis Lim, 53; Mr Ong Hwee Liang, 46; and Mr Arasu Duraisamy, 43.
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