Milestones
| 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
1980s
1981
A Union Is Born
With the restructuring of the Singapore economy, formation of industry wide unions was necessary to meet the demands of highly skilled workers in a high technology economy.
A NTUC task force was formed in March 1980 to look into the restructuring of the Singapore Industrial Labour Organization (SILO) and the Pioneer Industries Employees Union (PIEU). NTWU was one of the first nine industrial unions formed in 1981. Originally suggested to be called Transport Workers’ Union, or Union of Transport Workers, the National Transport Workers’ Union was formed on 7 July 1981
Set up with 30 branches hailed from transport, lighterage and bunkerage, and other harbour craft services with a total membership of 11,000, it is one of the largest affiliates of NTUC.
SBS Canteen Committee
The SBS Canteen Committee was re-constituted on 1 st September 1980 after the NTUC-Management Service Unit took over the management of SBS Canteens.
1982
NTUC Model Workers Award
The first batch of model workers from Industrial Unions was selected and was presented with the award by Mr Lim Chee Onn, Secretary General of NTUC.Mr Chua Kay Siang who became the 1 st Vice-President of NTWU later was the awardee representing transport industry.
Scholarship & bursary awards for members’ children
In 1982, NTWU started giving out scholarship & bursary awards for members’ children from Primary to Tertiary levels. A total of $ 88,300 was awarded to 526 students.
1983
First Collective Agreement with SBS
The first collective agreement was signed with SBS in the presence of Mr Lim Chee Onn, Secretary General of NTUC.
Second Public Bus Company and second Public Bus Branch
In that year, Comrade Ong Teng Cheong inaugurated Trans-Island Bus (TIBS), one of our branches now known as SMRT Buses, officially.
In July, TIBS Branch was formed. It became the second Branch operating public bus services with about 400 union members.
Affiliated to (ITF)
NTWU was affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). Executive Mr Ong Ah Heng and IRO Mr Joseph Cross attended the 34 th Congress of the ITF held in Madrid ( Spain).
1984
SBS mass retrenchment
With the successful implementation of the One Man Operation Ticketing System (OTS), about 3,000 SBS bus conductors were made redundant. In close consultation with the management, 1,000 plus of the affected conductors were retrained or redeployed to do other jobs. The remaining was retrenched in four batches with reasonable compensation package.
1985
Union House Destroyed
Our former union premise at the Sports House at Farrer Park was completely destroyed by fire. With the assistance from the NTUC, our union shifted office to the annex of the NTUC at Shenton Way.
Union Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme
Commencing from 1 July 1985, our union insured all union members under the “Union Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme” with a coverage of $ 10,000/- per member. The scheme covers death and permanent disablement resulting from accidents occurring outside working hours.
1986
Shifted union office to Cantonment Road
When NTUC expended the NTUC Club operation and needed the space of the annex, with the kind assistance and generosity from the Singapore Port Workers’ Union for our union to use its multi-purpose hall, we shifted office to SPWU’s multi-purposes hall at Cantonment Road.
Explain to Branch officials the 15 % cut in employers CPF contribution
Due to Singapore’s economy recession, the employers CPF contribution was reduced by 15 %. Union organized a series of discussion sessions with Branch Officials and explained to them the rational behind the change and sought their support.
1988
New NTWU Building
NTWU moved its entire office to the new premises at 16B/18B Geylang Lorong 37. Comrade Lim Boon Heng officially opened the new union premises on 7 July 1988. NTUC delegation led by Comrade Ong Teng Cheong, Secretary General of NTUC and 2 nd Deputy Prime Minister visited NTWU new home on 11 July 1988.
1989
SMRT in full operation
SMRT started full operation, which inadvertently affected the business of the main land public bus companies’, viz., SBS, TIBS, and Singapore Shuttle Bus (SSB) whose employees were represented by our union.
1990s
1991
NTWU 10 th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine and Celebrating Singapore’s 25 th Anniversary
To commemorate the 10 th anniversary of NTWU, a souvenir magazine was published depicting and recording the key developments and milestones achieved by NTWU over the last 10 years.
1992
NTUC General Branch (GB) Members
The concept of General Branch (GB) membership was introduced by NTUC in early 1992. NTWU supported this concept and started our first recruitment of GB members. Within a few months, we managed to recruit 119 workers. Today, our GB members total more than 4,300.
In the same year, our union also successfully organized 10 new Branches with a net increase of 457 members and was given the NTUC Membership Recruitment Merit Award for achieving significant increase in membership recruitment over the past one year.
1996 - 1997
6 th Triennial Delegates Conference
NTWU held its 6 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference on 10 July 1996 after witnessing Singapore’s rapid economic growth of 9.9% in 1993, 10.1% in 1994 and 8.9% in 1995. Our transport members also benefited from the strong growth and receive an average of 5.7% annual increment and 1.8 months variable bonus. At the 6 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference, a resolution was passed to set aside $ 100,000 annually as scholarship and bursary awards for members’ children.
With effect from 1 May 1996, all member of NTWU were covered by SLF Gift insurance Scheme that covers death, permanent & total disability occurred due to all causes.
Study on Health and Working Environment of Bus Driver in Singapore
Our union, SBB and TIBS jointly engaged a team from the medical faculty of NUS to do a study on the health and working environment of bus workers in Singapore. SBS & TIBS later implemented a number of the recommendations put forward by the study team.
Commencing from June 1997, our union provide d legal aid of up to $ 1,000 to help our bus drivers seek lawyers’ advice in the event that they involved in fatal accidents and who wished to plead for leniency.
1998
Fund raising for NTUC Education and Training Fund (N-ETF)
In response to NTUC’s call to raise fund for the N-ETF, our union raised a total amount of $ 150,000 from members. Through the NTUC Walk & Jog donation cards, we raised another $ 29,128.50. NTWU also secured $ 230,000 from the management for this worthy cause.
In view of the poor economy performance and outlook, our union gave out the NTUC Education Grant that was jointly funded by NTWU and Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) totaling $ 97,600 benefiting 976 members who were in financial difficulties to pay for their school-going children’s textbooks.
NTWU Ex-co & staff brainstormed on the formation of NTWU 21, which charts the strategies to implement 5 pillars of NTWU.
1999
7 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference
NTWU held its 7 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference on 7 July 1999 during a period when Singapore was badly government announced a series of wage cut package in 1998 that included a CPF cut of affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. To deal with the crisis, the 10% and wage restraint policy in NWC guidelines.
2000 onwards
2000s
2000
Welcome On Board “SMRT Branch”
It was a significant year as in July 2000, the SMRTEU successfully joined NTWU and became a branch. As a result, the membership of NTWU grew by 2,363 members due to this injection.
In July 2000, the Union Welfare Scheme, which provided retirement benefit, payment payable on the death of member and dependents (spouse, and parent), hospitalization, and natural calamities, was abolished. In its replacement is the NTUC CORE Benefit Scheme.
Welcome On Board “ Jurong Port Branch”
After SMRTEU joining NTWU in 2000, Jurong Port with167 members also joined the NTWU family in Jan 2001. With this inclusion, the membership of NTWU has become more diversified.
In recognition of our union’s achievement in membership recruitment, NTUC conferred our union a Merit Award.
2002
8 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference
NTWU held its 8 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference on 3 July 2002 amidst an uncertain environment when the world economy is just recovering from the shock terrorist bombing in September 2001.
In the same year, our union in recognition of the long, royal services rendered by our Branch officials, awarded 66 Branch Officials with 10 years service, 49 with 15 years service, and 37 with 20 years service with 10 grams, 15 grams, and 20 grams gold pendant respectively.
2003
Welcome on Board “Comfort Group of Companies”
Due to the merging of Comfort Group and Delgro Group in 2003 that created the world’s 2 nd largest land transport company known as ComfortDelgro Corporation, companies under the Comfort Group joined the fold of NTWU. With this injection, the membership of NTWU grew by another 750 members.
2004
To reflect our union’s commitment to inject young, capable and committed union leaders, union constitution was amended to allow the Ex-co to appoint up 4 union members to serve in the Branch Committee.
2005
9 th Triennial Delegates Conference
NTWU successfully held its 8 th Triennial Delegates’ Conference on 8 July 2005 on a backdrop of strong economic growth of 8.4% in 2004 after experiencing several years of slowdown. To deal with new challenges ahead, NTWU decided that we should continue to refresh itself to remain relevant and serve members’ need.
In the new four-year term (2005 –2009), NTWU successfully inducted more than 30% of new faces as part of our on-going leadership renewal for our branch leaders. We hope their presence will help refresh NTWU approach and stay connected to our changing membership profile.
2006
Increase in Scholarship/Bursary Grant from $ 100,000 to $ 120,000
On 1 January 2006, NTUC decided to raise the monthly subscription fees from $ 8 to $ 9. In response to this increase, NTWU decided to increase our annual budget for the Scholarship and Bursary Award from $ 100,000 to $ 120,000 with effect from Financial Year 2006. The increase will benefit more of our members’ children.
25 th Anniversary Celebration
NTWU celebrated its 25 th anniversary with a gala dinner and also published a commemorative book depicting the key milestone and history of NTWU over the last 25 years.
During the anniversary dinner, NTWU also launched its new logo that portrays dynamism and vibrancy to be relevant to its changing membership profile and diversity.