1 How can unions help members?

Unions can negotiate on all industrial matters for their members. This covers the relations between employers and employees with regard to employment, terms of employment, transfer of employment and conditions of work.

2 What kind of benefits can a union member generally expect?

Members are covered by collective agreements (CAs) signed between the union and the employer.

Unions can negotiate the terms of employment and benefits, and help members on grievances like wage disputes and unfair dismissals.

Mr Ryan Cheong, director of NTUC's membership department, said members can also upgrade skills through training and find employment opportunities via their unions.

They can get training-fund support from NTUC and upgrade their skills at NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

They can also enjoy discounts and rebates offered by NTUC's social enterprises.

3 How can a union help a member in the event of a retrenchment?

Workers are paid retrenchment benefits based on what is stipulated in the CA between the management and union.

If it is not stipulated, benefits will be negotiated between the union and management.

The union will also help members negotiate for training grants, retrain at NTUC's e2i, apply for financial assistance and find jobs.

4 After the retrenchment exercise is over, will a union still help a member?

Union members who are jobless or experience financial hardship after the retrenchment can continue to ask the union for help.

Mr Tan Teck Chye, 42, a pharmaceutical technician who was retrenched last year, noted how the Chemical Industries Employees' Union set him up with job interviews.

'Even now, they contact me to track and check how things are going with my new job.'

5 What if a union member is unfairly dismissed?

The union will meet the management to understand the reasons for the dismissal. The onus is on the union to prove that the dismissal is unfair.

If both management and union cannot come to a settlement, the union can make an appeal against wrongful dismissal to the Minister for Manpower.

6 Can executives join a union?

Yes. There are executive unions like the Air-Transport Executive Staff Union, Singapore Bank Officers' Union and Port Officers' Union.

In 2002, the Industrial Relations Act was amended to allow rank-and-file unions to represent executives in areas like appeals against wrongful dismissal and negotiations for retrenchment benefits.

When he was retrenched last year, then plant supervisor David Low, 57, could not get help from the union as he was a manager. It was eventually able to represent him after a conciliation meeting at the Ministry of Manpower and it got him better retrenchment benefits.

7 Can a worker form a union with others if their company doesn't have one?

Yes. Workers must first sign up as NTUC

union members. The more members, the higher the chance of forming a union. Depending on the business nature of the company, NTUC will then work with the union member to form a union within his company.

NTUC union membership is open to working people aged 16 and above (except uniformed personnel in the Defence Ministry, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Cisco armed personnel).

8 Can employers reject unions?

A union may contact the employer to seek recognition so that it can negotiate indus-trial-related matters for a category of workers.

If the employer rejects the union, the latter can refer the matter to the Ministry of Manpower.

A secret ballot will be arranged by the ministry for all the workers to be represented. If the result indicates that the majority want a union, the employer has to recognise the union.

9 If a worker is not part of a union but the company has one, will what it works out with the employer apply to all workers?

In a unionised company, all the terms and conditions stipulated in the CA are applicable to the category of employees listed in it.

However, the CA usually states that non-members shall not receive benefits more favourable than those enjoyed by union members of the same category.

Also, the union can help with work-related grievances and negotiate for extra assistance and benefits for members.

10 Where can I go to get help?

You can call NTUC's hotline on 6213-8008 or e-mail membership@ntuc.org.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.