Union will still serve MBS workers

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

ST Forum letter -

Union will still serve MBS workers

ONE key role of a workers' union is to engage in collective bargaining for its members' rights, benefits and welfare with their employers ("Collective bargaining a key union role"; last Wednesday).

Collective bargaining is made possible with the support of the majority of workers in a company or if the employer grants the union recognition or right to represent the workers.

The union can still serve the members through other means, even if we do not have the support of the majority of the workers to secure collective bargaining with the company.

The union can work closely with the management to strengthen labour-management relations, promote welfare and well-being of workers, provide workplace advice to workers, raise employment issues with the employer and union for resolution, and facilitate interactions between employees and employer.

In the case of Marina Bay Sands, its workers' response to the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union's (AREU) membership recruitment efforts have been very encouraging.

However, the level of support from the workers was not high enough for us to secure collective bargaining with their employer.

Nonetheless, instead of walking away from the workers there, AREU reached a mutual agreement with MBS to offer a range of social benefits and workplace assistance. AREU is confident that it can work closely with MBS to advance the interests of our workers. The workers' union memberships are fully funded by MBS and at no cost to the workers. We believe this is a win-win situation and a big step forward in establishing a constructive labour-management relationship for the interest of the workers at MBS.

Charles Khng

General Secretary

Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union

Source: Union will still serve MBS workers


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