Ng Chee Meng Urges Those Affected By SIA’s Mass Reduction Exercise To “Keep The Faith”

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The general secretary of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), Ng Chee Meng, has urged those affected by the Singapore Airlines Group’s (SIA) massive downsizing exercise to “keep the faith,” in a Facebook post published the same day. that the embattled national airline announced plans to cut thousands of jobs.

SIA Group announced on Thursday (September 10) that it is cutting a hefty 4,300 jobs across its three airlines amid the coronavirus pandemic and virus prevention restrictions around the world that have crippled its operations.

After accounting for the hiring freeze, wear and tear and voluntary departures involving some 1,900 employees, the SIA Group will lay off 2,400 employees from SIA, SilkAir and Scoot in Singapore and overseas stations.

The organization said the decision was “Taken in light of the long road to recovery of the global airline industry due to the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need for the Group’s airlines to adapt to an uncertain future.”

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Announcing plans to operate a “smaller fleet for a lean network” in the coming years, compared to its pre-COVID-19 operations, SIA Group committed to working closely with unions to minimize stress on its staff. it is ready to be placed off.

He said: “Talks have started with our Singapore-based unions. The Group will work closely with them to finalize the arrangements as soon as possible for those affected and try to minimize stress and anxiety for our people ”.

Ng said the SIA Group’s decision left him with a “deep sense of loss and sadness,” though not a surprise, in a Facebook post published in the wake of the national airline’s announcement.

Recalling the positivity he felt earlier in the year when one of the SIA Group airlines voluntarily assisted as the Government responded to the COVID-19 crisis, Ng said:

“When I sent out our FlyScoot team who volunteered to bring Singaporeans back from Wuhan earlier this year, there was a sense of pride and positivity in the air. Today, while the news that our local airlines are the right size is not a surprise these days, we cannot help but feel a deep sense of loss and sadness. “

Ng added that the decision may be especially difficult for union leaders who have struggled to mitigate the downsizing. He said: “It can be especially difficult for our union leaders to have other colleagues fired.

“When our union leaders from the aviation and aerospace sectors and I met several times over the past few months, we discussed the actions taken jointly by management and unions to help workers during this downtime and mitigate the reduction in personal.

The former deputy of the ruling party, who was expelled from Parliament in the July elections, added: “While the results may not always be as desired, I appreciate these unwavering efforts.”

Mr Ng asked those concerned to be encouraged and expressed his belief that Singapore will emerge stronger from the crisis. He wrote: “I know it is difficult for everyone concerned. But let’s cheer up, keep the faith, and keep supporting each other. Slowly but surely, we will come out stronger together. “

NTUC said in a separate statement that it will show solidarity with employees affected by the downsizing exercise. Undersecretary General of the trade union movement, Cham Hui Fong, said: “We know that the decision to lay off employees does not come lightly to SIA Group.

“While this measure is necessary, considering that air travel has almost stopped, downsizing is never easy news to hear, for employers and employees alike.”

NTUC added that the Singapore Airlines Personnel Union (SIASU) and Scoot Personnel Union (STSU) have been working closely with SIA and Scoot management on various measures to prevent downsizing for the past six months. , but the impact of the pandemic turned out to be too devastating.

He said SIASU and STSU worked with SIA management to ensure the downsizing exercise was fair, referencing NTUC’s Fair downsizing Framework and other tripartite caveats.

SIA Group CEO Goh Choon Phong previously promised that the downsizing process will take place “In a fair and respectful manner” and that SIA Group “We will do everything possible to ensure that they receive all the necessary support during this very difficult time.”

Sharing that SIA’s priorities since the beginning of the health crisis were to ensure survival while saving as many jobs as possible, Goh called the decision to lay off jobs the “most harrowing” he has had to make in his 30 years with SIA. He said:

“Having to let go of our valuable and dedicated people is the most difficult and harrowing decision I have had to make in my 30 years with SIA. This is not a reflection of the strengths and capabilities of those who will be affected, but rather the result of an unprecedented global crisis that has gripped the airline industry. “

Singapore Airlines Group laid off 2,400 employees by cutting 4,300 jobs

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