When I decided to ask to be medically boarded out of Singapore, I was having problems with my two wrists and suffers constant pain. This I found out was due to my working on my keyboard in the office quite a lot. Unfortunately in Singapore such injuries are not compensated by the Company and employers are protected by the Government . There is no way I can sue the Company for the damage due to the Company not advising employees on proper posture for using the computer.
Beside my heart attack I also suffers from asthma, which was a miss diagnosis by the first doctor who treated me in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I was under the impression that I had asthma. Later on when I see my lung specialist after my retirement, Dr. Yap Wee See told me that the doctor in my earlier case actually wrote that I have no asthma, but was most likely a case of allergy to dust or dust mites. Dr. Yap Wee See, my present specialist doctor on lungs ordered an allergy test for me. The report shows I was allergic to dust mites, and dust in general. So that was one problem of my health that was solved after my retirement. I still got my wrist problem, which can be ameliorated by wearing gloves to sleep at night. During the day, the pain is there but largely bearable.
Now back to my MBO. I was under the impression that as a staff was medically boarded out, he or she will still be entitled to privileged travels if he/she has worked for more than 25 years in Singapore Airlines. Fortunately for me, Singapore Airlines did not informed the union of the policy changes. We in the union (Air-Transport Executive Staff Union) were left unaware of the policy change. I asked my colleagues in the union to take up my case and it was restored. I was even prepare to go to court to fight for my rights. But the company gave way before this was done. It saves the Company a bundle, as they can then deny the benefits to future MBO staff.
In Singapore, we do not have a class action case against the Company. Nor will the unions be much of a help, as they are largely unable to achieve much for the members against the companies. It is only a narrow band of interests that unions can fight for. Namely, victimizations, compensations (to a limit), and collective agreements. We can live with it, as the majority of our members are also for less confrontations with the employers (who are also employees of the Company).
I got my compensations (medically boarded out benefits from the Company of 24 months last drawn basic pay) on the day of my leaving the company. This amount was not enough for my eventual retirement and I had to explore how I can have an income after retirement .
For the first six months or so, I was generally very relaxed and did not do much in the way of employment.
My wife, Alice and I left for Vancouver on SQ18/26August 2004 to join the Norwegian Sun for our cruise. But I was denied my rights by the Company's staff in charge of staff travel that my last privileged tickets should be confirmed tickets. So, I was off loaded in Seoul as the flight from Seoul to Vancouver was full. Alice managed to get the last seat available on first class. I asked her to travel on without me and go to the hotel we were booked for. She was hesitant but left without much problem. Alice reached Vancouver safe and sound but one of my luggage was missing and she stayed back to look for it, while Rob Hoefle was outside waiting for her. Unfortunately the wait was too long and he left without her.
Alice went to the hotel by herself. The taxi driver took her on a longer route to the hotel which was situated near Chinatown but in an area frequent by drug takers. But she was safe and sound and bought her dinner from a Vietnamese restaurant. I was to take part of the dinner when I finally arrived the next day.
After Alice has left, I was alone in Seoul with another ex staff, (not sure of her name now). She was an operator with MSD and was then interested in Lee Boon Hup. Unfortunately for her, John Lee BH was already married, so she goes on and got married to another first officer. She was traveling first class based on her being the wife of this pilot.
Both of us checked into the Quality Hotel in Seoul Airport for the night. The night was cool and we took long walks around the hotel and have our dinner and breakfast in the hotel.
The next day, I took a flight to San Francisco, with her and then took a connecting Canada Airways flight to Vancouver Airport. I went straight to the hotel where we were staying. But Alice was not around as she went to Chinatown for a walk. She bought back dinner for herself and shared that with me. It was from the Vietnamese restaurant and the food was typical Chinese Char Siew Rice.
Next post will be on our stay in Vancouver and our Alaskan Cruise.
Beside my heart attack I also suffers from asthma, which was a miss diagnosis by the first doctor who treated me in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I was under the impression that I had asthma. Later on when I see my lung specialist after my retirement, Dr. Yap Wee See told me that the doctor in my earlier case actually wrote that I have no asthma, but was most likely a case of allergy to dust or dust mites. Dr. Yap Wee See, my present specialist doctor on lungs ordered an allergy test for me. The report shows I was allergic to dust mites, and dust in general. So that was one problem of my health that was solved after my retirement. I still got my wrist problem, which can be ameliorated by wearing gloves to sleep at night. During the day, the pain is there but largely bearable.
Now back to my MBO. I was under the impression that as a staff was medically boarded out, he or she will still be entitled to privileged travels if he/she has worked for more than 25 years in Singapore Airlines. Fortunately for me, Singapore Airlines did not informed the union of the policy changes. We in the union (Air-Transport Executive Staff Union) were left unaware of the policy change. I asked my colleagues in the union to take up my case and it was restored. I was even prepare to go to court to fight for my rights. But the company gave way before this was done. It saves the Company a bundle, as they can then deny the benefits to future MBO staff.
In Singapore, we do not have a class action case against the Company. Nor will the unions be much of a help, as they are largely unable to achieve much for the members against the companies. It is only a narrow band of interests that unions can fight for. Namely, victimizations, compensations (to a limit), and collective agreements. We can live with it, as the majority of our members are also for less confrontations with the employers (who are also employees of the Company).
I got my compensations (medically boarded out benefits from the Company of 24 months last drawn basic pay) on the day of my leaving the company. This amount was not enough for my eventual retirement and I had to explore how I can have an income after retirement .
For the first six months or so, I was generally very relaxed and did not do much in the way of employment.
My wife, Alice and I left for Vancouver on SQ18/26August 2004 to join the Norwegian Sun for our cruise. But I was denied my rights by the Company's staff in charge of staff travel that my last privileged tickets should be confirmed tickets. So, I was off loaded in Seoul as the flight from Seoul to Vancouver was full. Alice managed to get the last seat available on first class. I asked her to travel on without me and go to the hotel we were booked for. She was hesitant but left without much problem. Alice reached Vancouver safe and sound but one of my luggage was missing and she stayed back to look for it, while Rob Hoefle was outside waiting for her. Unfortunately the wait was too long and he left without her.
Alice went to the hotel by herself. The taxi driver took her on a longer route to the hotel which was situated near Chinatown but in an area frequent by drug takers. But she was safe and sound and bought her dinner from a Vietnamese restaurant. I was to take part of the dinner when I finally arrived the next day.
After Alice has left, I was alone in Seoul with another ex staff, (not sure of her name now). She was an operator with MSD and was then interested in Lee Boon Hup. Unfortunately for her, John Lee BH was already married, so she goes on and got married to another first officer. She was traveling first class based on her being the wife of this pilot.
Both of us checked into the Quality Hotel in Seoul Airport for the night. The night was cool and we took long walks around the hotel and have our dinner and breakfast in the hotel.
The next day, I took a flight to San Francisco, with her and then took a connecting Canada Airways flight to Vancouver Airport. I went straight to the hotel where we were staying. But Alice was not around as she went to Chinatown for a walk. She bought back dinner for herself and shared that with me. It was from the Vietnamese restaurant and the food was typical Chinese Char Siew Rice.
Next post will be on our stay in Vancouver and our Alaskan Cruise.
