About Us

National Transport Workers' Union, representing and organising workers in the transport industry, was formed on 7 July 1981.

From an initial 11,000 bus workers from SBS, NTWU now looks after the welfare and interests of more than 17,000 bus captains, service leaders, transport engineering staff, SMRT rail and Station staff, transport services support staff and Jurong Port workers.

NTWU works tirelessly to improve the lives of its members and their families by working with the National Trades Union Congress and the management to secure better benefits for the workers it represents. Besides collective agreements, NTWU represents and advises more than 1,000 members in grievances ranging from unfair treatment, termination to disciplinary matters at the workplaces annually.

Together with NTUC, it promotes lifelong learning and training so that workers can remain employable over time.It worked with SBS Transit and SMRT Buses to enhance the pay, professional standing and social status of bus drivers under the NTUC’s Job Recreation Programme.

NTWU also disburses over $500,000 in welfare claims like retirement, hospitalization and death benefits to more than 800 members and their families a year. In addition, it supports members’ children in their academic pursuits through scholarships and bursary awards since 1981. The budget set aside for this purpose has increased from $80,000 to $120,000 to benefit more than 400 children each year.

NTWU looks after the workplace health and safety (WHS) of its members through WHS promotion and study and dialogues and workshops with its union leaders and management officials. In the early 90s, when bus workers were not provided with proper canteens, NTWU with the support of NTUC pressed for the setting up of permanent and makeshift canteens at the terminals and depots to feed them.

This care and concern shown by the union for its members also extends to the needy and disadvantaged in the society. Besides helping out and caring for the inmates at its adopted home – St Vincent Home, NTWU and its members, together with the management have supported and given generously in kind and cash to the various welfare initiatives, charity projects and community services over the years. In 2005 alone, it contributed more than $200,000 to these various community projects.