Unions Show Heart

A few months ahead of Christmas, our unions embarked on their annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) missions to brighten up lives and lend the less well-off a hand. From the elderly to low-income families, no one was left behind. Let’s check out what they were up to in the photos below!

HDBSU Brings Cheers to the Elderly

The Housing Development Board (HDB) partnered HDB Staff Union (HDBSU) on an annual partnership community outreach project, “Bringing Cheer to Tanjong Pagar - Tiong Bahru”, on 2 October 2018.

“It has always been the HDB’s initiative to encourage staff to engage in community service activities to help the underprivileged and the aged. Union, being the staff members’ representative, also collaborate with HDB on CSR projects. It was a very meaningful afternoon to bring some cheer to the residents and extend genuine concern for the less well-off and the aged,” said HDBSU Deputy General Secretary and Union Representative in HDB CSR & Work-Life Committee Tay Peck Kiang.

Together with HDBSU’s Honorary Adviser Ms Indranee Rajah, HDB management and HDBSU union leaders distributed groceries and essential household items to about 40 HDB rental units in the vicinity housing elderly residents and less well-off families on the Public Assistance Scheme.

HDB and HDBSU volunteers also helped to spring-clean and paint the interiors of six identified units.

A Gift from FDAWU & CIEU to Low-Income Families

Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) and Chemical Industries Employees' Union (CIEU) have jointly organised “Gift from the Heart” (GFTH) for their low-income union members for over 10 years now. This year, on 13 October 2018, approximately 2,000 low-income union members and their family members benefitted. These were members who were earning a monthly gross salary of $2,200 and below, or per capita household income of $850 and below.

CIEU executive committee representatives play their parts to pack and distribute the goodie bags.

Each beneficiary received a goodie bag with over $100 worth of goods, produce and necessities.

CIEU Vice-President and GFTH Organising Committee 2018 Co-Chairperson Mahendran Adaikalam shared: “On the event day, CIEU activated student helpers from ITE College East for the packing, as well as our branch officials. The various booths from Health Promotion Board and Land Transport Authority were also well received by our members.

“The theme for GFTH 2018 is Health and Wellness and I feel that the committee did a wonderful job in educating our members on the various health initiatives. Seeing the smiles of gratitude on members' faces makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

FDAWU President Julie Cheong, FDAWU Executive Secretary Toh Hwee Tin, and FDAWU General Secretary Tan Hock Soon with Group HR Vice President Angelina Chua from one of the sponsors, YHS Singapore.

Sponsored by more than 20 management partners from both unions, the goodie bags is a financial aid and gesture of care to the lower income union members.

"With the collective efforts of the unions, management partners and government agencies, we hope to provide more support to our members beyond their workplace and work closely with their companies on training to enable them for the longer term,” said for GFTH Organising Committee 2018 Co-Chairperson and FDAWU Senior Vice-President Yeo Soon Hock.

SMMWU Delivers Lunch with Love

A union with a heart, The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU) visited the Society for the Aged Sick on 5 October 2018 to spend some time with the aged and the sick.

In fact, this outreach is part of the union’s CSR project that has been around for over 20 years.

SMMWU donated lunch to some 250 residents at the home.

Volunteers serenade the home’s residents with their songs and guitars.

“Our duty as the union must go beyond the workplace and also towards making society better. When we say we help workers, it means we are helping those in need our help. Similarly, I see volunteerism as an extension of the work I do in the union as it helps to make a difference in the lives of other people,” said SMMWU Internal Auditor Balamurugan Mohan.