Here is number six of six articles to appear in The Straits Times:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sto...222911,00.html
DEC 1, 2003
NTUC calls for management and union to work together
THE National Trades Union Congress said last night that it supported the Government's call for Singapore Airlines' management to take the lead in forging a 'common understanding and improving communications' with its employees.
And it expressed hope that the company and the Air Line Pilots' Association-Singapore (Alpa-S) could put the current episode behind them and work together.
In a statement issued last night, the labour movement said that it took the effort of both the management and union to achieve a more harmonious industrial relationship.
Although Alpa-S is not an affiliate, the NTUC said that it viewed the sacking of the Alpa-S executive council members with 'much concern', pointing out that the move had far-reaching implications.
The issue was not merely an internal union matter nor a question of members having the constitutional right to act, it said.
It recalled that during the Sars crisis earlier this year, SIA had proposed cost-cutting measures, and the Alpa-S executive council took the matter all the way to the Industrial Arbitration Court.
A compromise was finally reached which included the sharing of gains should SIA's business pick up again. This was put to the members of Alpa-S in a general meeting and was agreed on. 'To now sack the council must mean that the pilots want future councils to take disputes beyond compromise and arbitration,' the statement said.
'Otherwise, why should there be a vote of no-confidence against the team that led the negotiations?'
It added that Alpa-S is not the only union in the SIA group. The statement had also noted earlier that Alpa-S was not an NTUC affiliate.
'There are other unions representing cabin crew, technicians, engineers, airport workers and other staff. Their livelihoods depend on the continued success of the company,' the NTUC said, adding that Singapore's tourism industry and development as an air hub depended highly on SIA's growth.
It said: 'An uncompromising attitude by one union in SIA will set a tougher tone for future negotiations in the company as a whole.'
And when the disputes become public, the NTUC said, these 'will raise concern about SIA's operations among its business partners and passengers'.
It was of the view that any adverse impact would reach beyond the pilots' union - to other parts of SIA, as well as to Singapore's industry and economy.
'Unions should work hard to get the best deal for its members and workers. But they must always have the broader picture in mind,' the statement said.