A Retrenchment Exercise by Eagle Services Asia (ESA) was Halted by Aerospace: Employee Relations Management Assignment, SMU, Singapore

Case Study

UNIONS HALT ‘UNFAIR’ RETRENCHMENT BY AEROSPACE FIRM, INDUSTRIAL. ACTION AVERTED

SINGAPORE: A retrenchment exercise by Eagle Services Asia (ESA) was halted by aerospace and aviation unions after it was found the aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) firm had not followed due process in letting go of its workers. In the process, legal industrial action, which received “overwhelming support” from workers and was approved by the labour chief Ng Chee Meng, was averted. In a joint statement on Wednesday (Jul 29), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and three unions representing Eagle Services staff said the firm had proceeded to release specific workers on Jul 22, before a name list was finalised with the unions.

This was despite the firm having been in ongoing negotiations with the unions – namely the Air Transport Executive Staff Union, SIA Engineering Company Engineers, and Executives Union, and the Singapore Airlines Staff Union. “When the unions were alerted that ESA management had gone ahead to start informing employees that they may be retrenched, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the unions took decisive action and stepped in to stop any further action by the company until an agreement could be reached,” the statement said. “The lack of transparency and disregard for negotiations with the unions is not acceptable and is not hoWip retrenchment exercise should be conducted,” it added.

Media reports earlier this week stated that Eagle Services Asia – a joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) Engineering, and US aerospace company Pratt and Whitney – had laid off its employees between Jul 22 and 24. However, the firm later said that no employee was retrenched on those dates and that all its employees were still on its payroll. The union statement noted that even as the unions continued negotiations with Eagle Services Asia, they separately engaged with their members.

1. Project Outline

The project covers the following topics:

1. Introduction to Tripartism in Singapore
2. Dynamics of collective bargaining
3. Effective management of grievances and disputes
4. Employee participation and recognition programmes
5. Issues and challenges in labour relation
6. Coaching in employee relations 

It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to apply and integrate your knowledge on the concept and theories of employee relations management through crafting a written report.

2. Learning Outcomes

After the completion of this project, learners will be able to:

1. Examine the importance of Tripartism, and foundations of effective collective bargaining.
2. Review the importance of effective grievance handling in dispute settlement.
3. Discover how employee participation and r cognition programmes are essential to good organisational practices.
4. Examine labour-management issues in Singapore and globally.
5. Create a coaching culture in the organization and help employees achieve developmental goals.

Requirements

Learners are required to research, analyse, and provide feasible recommendations to enable a company to achieve good employee relations management under the given scenario requirements. The report should include:

1. Cover Page- Include a cover page with the project title, name and admission number, tutorial group, and name of tutor.
2. Identify issues and challenges in labour relations- Explain in detail the requirements that must be fulfilled by the involved airline Unions before a strike can be carried out tit ESA. Explain why a _strike may_ not be the best way to manage this industrial dispute.