News

The 30th Management Committee and 23rd Executive Committee Meeting of UNI Apro were successfully held on 4-5 April in Singapore. The Executive Committee Meeting was well-attended and the proceedings went smoothly under the able chairmanship of UNI Apro President, Bro. Minao Noda, and with the active participation of the committee members.

The first day’s meeting mainly covered matters relating to organisation and financial matters. The Executive Committee adopted the audited financial and auditor’s reports for 2016 as well as the budget for this financial year and the tentative budget for 2018. Some other key items discussed include matters of affiliation and the incorporation of UNIAPRO Office Ltd, where Regional Secretary of UNI Apro, Bro. Christopher, updated the Executive Committee on its progress.

A special two hour forum on the “Future World of Work” was held in between the Management Committee Meeting and the Executive Committee Meeting to discuss the issues and challenges arising from a fast changing world of work driven by the 4th industrial revolution. UNI General Secretary, Bro. Philip Jennings, gave an enlightening presentation of the challenges and UNI’s strategies and policies to the meeting delegates. Bro. Patrick Tay, Executive Secretary of the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), gave a presentation from the perspective of the Singapore’s union movement, where he shared Singapore's current experience in taking on the future of work.

In his Presidential address, Bro. Noda spoke about how recent political shifts in the West are perceived to be affecting the rest of the world. Yet, rather than being passive recipients of these changes elsewhere, he noted that Asia can remain autonomous especially if viewed from a demographic and economic angle. The question is about building the right institutions and trade unions could play a part by strengthening our networks to facilitate the exchange of information. This would affect the way we deal with challenges such as the Future of Work and the impact of the 4th industrial revolution. These pressing issues would benefit from more discussion and thinking to develop concrete initiatives that are aligned with the Breaking Through strategies. 

UNI General Secretary, Philip Jennings gave the fraternal greetings from the UNI family and on behalf of UNI President, Sis. Ann Selin. He updated on UNI’s observations on developments around the world that have implications on trade union growth and development. He also reported on the leadership changes that are taking place in other regions and within the various UNI departments. Bro. Philip shared on the current state of preparations for the 5th UNI Global Congress next year and he looked forward to seeing delegates from UNI Apro in Liverpool.   

 
The meeting was honoured to host Bro. Shoyo Yoshida who arrived in Singapore just a few days earlier to assume his new role as the acting General Secretary of ITUC-AP. Bro. Chris gave a warm welcome on behalf of UNI Apro to Bro. Yoshida. He expressed UNI Apro’s readiness and commitment to work with Bro. Yoshida’s leadership of the global union movement here in the Asia Pacific to achieve shared goals.

Bro. Yoshida gave a warm fraternal address that focused on the persistent and growing inequality challenges in the Asia and Pacific region that is characterised by precarious jobs, gender pay gap, and growing number of migrant workers and internally displaced persons. He reiterated the broad aim of the trade union movement as one that seeks to achieve social justice. But as he puts it eloquently, that even as the, “Meaning of social justice and fighting injustices may differ from time and place; but in any age and place, people do not stop talking about what is not right.” The trade union movement must continue to be a voice and platform for dialogues and discussion to point out and address injustice. He urged the trade union movement to develop new approaches and be innovative in building workers power and voices to address the current challenges arising in these uncertain times.

A dinner was hosted by UNI Apro to welcome all the committee members. It included a special segment to thank and honour the past immediate ITUC-AP’s General Secretary, Bro. Noriyuki Suzuki for his leadership, past support and contributions made to the trade union movement in the Asia and Pacific region and to the Global Union Federations as well. President Noda presented a token of appreciation to Bro. Suzuki on behalf of UNI Apro. Bro. Philip also expressed his gratitude for Bro. Suzuki’s work. Bro. Suzuki gave a visibly heartfelt note of thanks for the warm support from everyone present.

The second day of the meeting first saw a discussion on the preparations for the upcoming UNI Apro Sectors Conferences. Bro. Chris elaborated on the overall theme for the sector conferences which is “Determined and Prepared”. It will serve to focus forthcoming discussions concerning trade unions growth and workers’ empowerment in the context of a changing future world of work and and ongoing regional economic integration processes. It was followed by a very encouraging review session of 2016 where colleagues from the various established Liaison Councils shared some of the successes and reflections in relation to UNI Apro’s Breaking Through strategic plan. This session was moderated by Bro. Rajendra K Acharya, Assistant Regional Secretary for UNI Apro, who also introduced UNI Apro’s shared priorities and sectoral organising initiatives for the year 2017.

Colleagues from UNI headquarters also participated in the session starting with Sis. Giedre Lelyte. She introduced herself as the new head of UNI Score and presented an overall picture of their work in other regions as well as sharing the identified priorities with regard to organising and trade union development in the Asia-Pacific region. UNI’s Deputy General Secretary, Sis. Christy Hoffman gave a most engaging account on the recent developments associated with the work on the Bangladesh Accord. She also thanked all our affiliates in the region for actively participating in the global campaign to free the jailed unionists in Bangladesh.

The two day meeting ended with delegates voicing their vote of appreciation and thanks. Bro. Toshimichi Omata bade everyone a farewell as this would be his last UNI Apro’s Management and Executive Committee Meeting. He will take on another role within JPGU later this year. The final thanks came from President Noda who appreciated everyone for cooperating to make the meeting run so smoothly.