Business Times makes public the ALPA-S nominees...
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/s...01741,00.html?
Business Times - 05 Dec 2003
SIA pilots nominate 3 non-citizens for council
Two Malaysians and an Indian national are all PRs
By VEN SREENIVASAN
(SINGAPORE) Singapore Airlines pilots have nominated three non-citizens for membership to their incoming executive council - after the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rescinded approval for two non-citizens to sit on the outgoing council.
Two Malaysians and one Indian national - all permanent residents - are among 17 nominees.
The Malaysians are First Officer Viswanathan Ramasamy and Captain Park George Howard, and the Indian national is First Officer Srihari Vaidun, according to a list obtained by BT.
Given that the 17 names fall short of the 19 spots available, all the nominees are expected to be voted to sit on the council when the members of the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S) meet on Dec 22 - assuming that MOM approves the three foreigners.
MOM recently rescinded approval for two non-citizens who sat on the council that was ousted by members unhappy with the way it handled wage negotiations. They are currently serving in a caretaker capacity until a new council is formed. The rescission notice was sent on Monday.
Alpa-S will seek MOM's nod for the new nominees.
'No elections are required as there are only 17 names nominated,' said spokesman Capt P James. 'The honorary secretary of Alpa-S is in the process of forwarding the names to the ministry for approval.'
Under Section 30 of Trade Unions Act, unions have to provide a list of changes in officials to the Registrar of Trade Unions at MOM within seven days of their election or appointment. Non-citizens have to be approved by the Minister for Manpower.
What if approval is not given for the three non-citizens nominated for the new council? 'I guess Alpa-S will have to manage with what they've got,' Capt James said.
According to the list obtained by BT, the other 14 nominees are Joseph Chern, Chew Choong Cheong, Dave Lai, Gerard Ee, Kuan Swee Heng, Lee Boon Hup, Lee Leong, Victor Lim, Lim Lu Chih, Alfonsus Low, Nicholas Han, Tan Ooi Mien, Randall Tang and Teng Beng Piow.
Meanwhile, the election for the presidency of the union will go ahead up to Dec 19, with two candidates - Capt Syed Abdul Kader Alhadad and Capt Mok Hin Choon - battling for the post.
Capt Syed is standing on a platform of better communications between the union and SIA management, upholding the terms of the wage cuts and preserving of the independence of Alpa-S.
Capt Mok, who arrived from Melbourne on Wednesday night, is yet to present his manifesto. He could not be contacted yesterday.
Both Capt Syed and Capt Mok, who are SIA veterans, have support bases among pilots.