Forever in Our Hearts

29 MARCH 2015 60 CENTS MCI (P) 044/01/2015 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS Lee Kuan1923 – 2015 Yew The Father of Our Nation, A Brother to Our Workers Lee Kuan Yew 1923 - 2015 “In Government, I have never forgotten that it is in the interest of the workers and their unions that we must strive for growth and development. In other words, growth is meaningless unless it is shared by the workers; shared not only directly in wage increases but indirectly in better homes, better schools, better hospitals, better playing elds and, generally, a healthier environment for families to bring up their children.” The Labour Movement and the Workers of Singapore NTUC-Afliated Unions and Associations • Air Transport Executive Staff Union • Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers • Amalgamated Union of Public Employees • Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees • Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union • Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union • Chemical Industries Employees’ Union • Creative Media and Publishing Union • DBS Staff Union • dnata Singapore Staff Union • Education Services Union • ExxonMobil Singapore Employees Union • Food, Drinks and Allied Workers’ Union • Healthcare Services Employees’ Union • Housing and Development Board Staff Union • Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union • Keppel Employees Union • Keppel FELS Employees’ Union • Metal Industries Workers’ Union • National Taxi Association • National Transport Workers’ Union • NatSteel Employees’ Union • Ngee Ann Polytechnic Academic Staff Union • Port Officers’ Union • Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union • Reuters Local Employees Union • Scoot Staff Union • Sembawang Shipyard Employees’ Union • Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union • SIA Engineering Company Engineers and Executives Union • Singapore Airlines Staff Union • Singapore Airport Terminal Services Workers’ Union • Singapore Bank Employees’ Union • Singapore Bank Officers’ Association • Singapore Chinese Teachers’ Union • Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union • Singapore Insurance Employees’ Union • Singapore Interpreters’ and Translators’ Union • Singapore Malay Teachers’ Union • The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union • Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union • Singapore Organisation of Seamen • Singapore Port Workers Union • Singapore Refining Company Employees’ Union • Singapore Shell Employees’ Union • Singapore Stevedores’ Union • Singapore Tamil Teachers’ Union • Singapore Teachers’ Union • Singapore Technologies Electronics Employees’ Union • Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees • Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority Workers’ Union • SPRING Singapore Staff Union • Staff Union of NTUC-ARU • Tigerair Staff Union of Singapore • Times Publishing Group Employees’ Union • Union of ITE Training Staff • Union of Power and Gas Employees • Union of Security Employees • Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore • United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries • United Workers of Petroleum Industry • NTUC Social Enterprises • NTUC Enterprise Co-operative Limited • NTUC Choice Homes Co-operative Limited • NTUC Club • NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited • NTUC First Campus Co-operative Limited • NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Limited • NTUC Health Co-operative Limited • NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited • NTUC LearningHub Private Limited • NTUC Link Private Limited • Mercatus Co-operative Limited • NTUC-Related Organisations • Consumers Association of Singapore • Devan Nair Employment and Employability Institute • Migrant Workers’ Centre • Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute • Singapore Labour Foundation Quote by Lee Kuan Yew at NTUC’s 50th Anniversary in 2011 NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 CONDOLENCE LETTER 3 NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say presented a Condolence Letter from the Labour Movement and a special tribute issue of NTUC is Week to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 23 March 2015 when he and other Cabinet Ministers attended the private wake at the Istana in the afternoon. Kae Lip Goy Photo Condolence Letter From The Labour Movement 4 A TRIBUTE TO LKY NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 TRIBUTE CENTRE FOR MR LEE Workers join the Labour Movement at a special Tribute Centre in the CBD to pay their respects to the founding father of Singapore. By Ramesh Subbaraman he Labour Movement set up a special Tribute Centre at its T headquarters in the heart of the Central Business District on 24 March 2015 for unionists and workers from all walks of life to pen their thoughts in memory of Singapore’s rst Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away on Monday, 23 March 2015. TRIBUTES POUR IN NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Lim Swee Say, Deputy Secretaries-General Heng Chee How and Chan Chun Sing and NTUC leaders observed a minute’s silence together with workers who came from around the area. Many took the opportunity to pen their thoughts on the condolence books placed at the Tribute Centre over six days till 29 March 2015, streaming in as early as 8am each morning. NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing (third from left), NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say (fourth from left), and NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How (extreme right). 5 SPECIAL EDITION OF NTUC THIS WEEK e Labour Movement also published and distributed a free special 40- page edition of its newspaper NTUC is Week, entitled “Remembering Lee Kuan Yew, e Father of Our Nation, A Brother to our Workers”. e publication, packaged with quotes and photographs, captured Mr Lee’s involvement with the Labour Movement from the late 1950s till the NTUC President Diana Chia penning her condolences. present day. More than 10,000 copies of the Special Issue were distributed at the Tribute Centre from 25 - 29 March 2015. Some further 70,000 copies were made available at various NTUC FairPrice outlets across the island. NTUC President Diana Chia penning her condolences. 6 A TRIBUTE TO LKY NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 Union of Telecom Employees of Singapore (UTES) General Secretary uvinder Singh penning his condolences. United Workers of Electronics & Electrical About 70 sta members of the Devan Nair Industries (UWEEI) paying an emotional Employment and Employability Institute tribute to the late Mr Lee. (e2i) paying their tributes. UTESCaption Executive Secretary Heng Chee How leading the union’s delegation in paying their respects. Singapore Industrial & Services Employees’ Union (SISEU) gives one last bow to honour the late Mr Lee. National Taxi Association (NTA) sends a 150-strong delegation to the Tribute Centre. NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 A TRIBUTE TO LKY 7 Union of Telecom Employees of Singapore (UTES) General Secretary uvinder Singh penning his condolences. Some 40 migrant workers from various countries working at Hiap Seng Engineering gathered at the NTUC Tribute Centre on 25 March 2015 to pay their respects to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Our Foreign Friends I wanted to thank him for the legacy he has passed down for this country and for allowing foreign workers, such as myself, the opportunity to earn money here and enjoy the country along with its locals.” From Philippines: Mr Glenn Padua, 40, an Oil and Gas Inspector I wanted to give him the respect as he is a nation founder and was a Prime Minister. All my fellow workers feel the same as I do and that is respect and gratitude for him.” From Bangladesh:Mr Shakahwait Hussein, 48, Supervisor We have never been able to be in the same time period of a great leader as many have passed on before… so now I am honoured to be here, to have been a witness of Mr Lee’s accomplishments and to have this opportunity to work in the country he built.” From India: Mr B R Arumugam, 39, Administrative Ofcer 8 IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 Lying In State TUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say led a 20-member delegate LM representatives (see photo below) consisting of central committee members, both past hold vigil in Nand present, to hold vigil for 30 minutes during the Lying In State at Parliament House on 25 March 2015. A number of NTUC aliated unions were memory of Mr Lee also at the Parliament House, joining the scores of thousands gathered to pay their last respects to the nation’s rst Prime Minister. Kuan Yew. 20-member vigil group from the Labour Movement: Front Row (from left): Mr Varukatty Mohd, Mr Tan Soon Yam, Mr Edwin Netto, Mr Lim Boon Heng, Ms Diana Chia, Mr Lim Swee Say, Mr Mahmud Awang, Mr Oscar Oliveiro, Mr John De Payva, Mr Chan Chun Sing. Back Row (from left): Ms Cham Hui Fong, Mr omas Tay, Mr Teo Yock Ngee, Mr Cyrille Tan, Mr Lim Kuang Beng, Mr Heng Chee How, Ms Nora Kang, Mr K. Karthikeyan, Mr Edwin Lye, Mr Tan Hock Soon. NTUC This Week 29 MARCH 2015 IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE 9 In Parliament Mr Lee Kuan Yew is the longest serving Parliamentarian to date in Singapore legislature. By Ramesh Subbaraman ingapore’s Parliament paid tribute to the nation’s most illustrious Parliamentarian, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, during a special sitting on 26 SMarch 2015. Parliament mourned his loss with a ower bouquet on the seat that he occupied in the legislature. SHAPING SINGAPORE Eleven Members of Parliament rose to share their personal thoughts and anecdotes about Mr Lee’s role in the development of Singapore. Leader of the House and Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen outlined the slew of challenges Mr Lee’s government had faced in the 1960, such as avoiding massive unemployment by the time the British withdrew in October 1971. “Amendments were made to Employment, Industrial Relations and Trade Unions Acts that put an end to the disruptive labour strikes. Bills were passed to build technical training institutes, forerunners of today’s ITE, Polytechnics and Universities, to educate and upgrade the skills of the workforce. Work hours were extended and the number of public holidays slashed,” said Dr Ng. At the close of the Parliamentary session, MPs rose for a minute’s silence. ey also headed to the hall where Mr Lee was Lying In State, to collectively pay their respects as One Parliament. It’s a sad occasion but we are celebrating his achievements.

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