National Transport Workers' Union

The depot-hoppers are back! 🚌

This time, we visited SMRT Woodlands Bus Depot to hear workers’ concerns and feedback on autonomous buses.

We are grateful for the strong management presence today, which helped reassure workers that they will be supported and taken care of as the industry evolves.

Next stop: Singapore’s oldest active bus depot! 👀🚌

A key milestone achieved through strong partnership🤝

NTWU is proud to sign the latest Collective Agreement with , reaffirming our commitment to improving the Wages, Welfare and Work prospects of our workers.

We thank Tower Transit Singapore for its continuous partnership throughout the negotiations and for working closely with the union all these years to enhance worker well-being and create better opportunities for transport workers.💚

We also want to congratulate Tower Transit Singapore on reaching its ✨10-year anniversary this year — a meaningful milestone that reflects a decade of serving commuters and supporting transport workers.💪🚌

By working hand in hand, unions and employers build stronger workplaces and a stronger transport industry.

The National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) has been made aware of an assault involving a Bus Captain from Go-Ahead Singapore, while he was carrying out his duties on Service 2.

At approximately 3.10pm on 23 May 2026, the Bus Captain was assaulted by a passenger after the passenger became upset over a missed stop. Following the incident, the Bus Captain reported experiencing blurred vision and sought medical attention at Changi General Hospital. Fortunately, his injuries are not serious.

No transport worker should ever have to endure abuse or violence simply for doing his job. Our Bus Captains perform demanding duties daily to ensure that commuters reach their destinations safely. They deserve respect and protection — not aggression.

The union and the company have accompanied the Bus Captain to lodge a police report. Under Singapore law, voluntarily causing hurt is a serious offence, punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

NTWU stands firmly with our transport workers and will continue to support the affected Bus Captain during this difficult time. Violence and abuse against public transport workers must never be tolerated.

We continue our series of AV engagements with our bus workforce, and today we were at SBST Sengkang West Bus Depot.

When asked for a one-word takeaway from the focus group, words like “impossible”, “anticipation”, and “salary” surfaced — reflecting the hopes, concerns, and practical realities on the ground. The discussion highlighted a balanced yet pragmatic view towards technology and the changes ahead.

As a union, we will continue to stand by our workers through every season of change!

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿

Of late, we’ve observed an increase in incidents involving commuters engaging in behaviours that are disruptive and potentially unsafe to themselves, transport workers, and other passengers.

Such actions carry serious consequences, including legal repercussions. For example, in a recent case, a passenger disrupted bus operations after she missed her bus stop. With the Union’s support, SBS Transit has lodged the matter with the Police as an offence of public nuisance.

Under the law, public nuisance is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to 3 months, or both.

As part of our year-long Focus Group Discussion series, we recently held sessions with Bus Captains and Technicians on the topic of Autonomous Buses and Artificial Intelligence.

These technologies are here, and they will impact the jobs we do. Our belief is that so long as we keep our ears to the ground, and continue to provide platforms for workers to share their feedback and concerns with stakeholders, we will be able to manage these transitions just as we have done before — and emerge stronger together.

Thank you to our colleagues at Tower Transit Singapore for sharing their insights and experiences with us!

✨Congratulations to our union leaders, model workers, and labour-management partners who were recognised at tonight’s May Day Awards for their dedication and contributions to the labour movement and Singapore’s transport industry👏 🎈

🏅 Comrade of Labour
- Brother John Ang, Assistant General Treasurer, NTWU
- Brother Syed Abbas, Assistant General Treasurer, NTWU

🏅 Medal of Commendation
- Brother Tan Peng Kuan, President, STRIDES Holdings and Group Chief Data & Digital Transformation Officer, SMRT Corporation Ltd
- Brother Winston Toh, Managing Director, Tower Transit Singapore

🏅 Model Worker
- Brother Goh Kim Han, Chief Train Captain, SMRT Corporation Ltd
- Brother Mazri Masrah, Diagnostic Expert, SBS Transit Ltd

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to workers, strong labour-management relations, and excellence in keeping Singapore moving every day. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.

With heavy hearts, NTWU mourns the passing of our founding Executive Secretary, Brother Ong Ah Heng, whose lifelong dedication helped shape the NTWU we know today.

From 1981 to 2006, Brother Ong served NTWU for 25 years, building the foundations of a strong and trusted Union within Singapore’s land transport sector.

In the 1980s, when the public bus industry introduced One-Man-Operation ticketing systems, many Bus Conductors faced the risk of losing their livelihoods. Brother Ong worked closely with affected workers to help them retrain and transition into new roles such as Bus Drivers and Ticket Inspectors, ensuring many could continue supporting their families with dignity. Many workers from that generation still remember and speak about his efforts with gratitude today.

A union leader once described him as a “Workers’ Fighter” who believed strongly in championing wage growth, welfare, and workplace safety. Throughout his years in NTWU, Brother Ong remained close to workers on the ground, listening to their concerns and speaking up for them both within the Labour Movement and in Parliament.

It was also the late Brother Ong’s vision for NTWU to operate canteens in depots and interchanges, ensuring transport workers had access to affordable meals and priority service. That mission continues today, having grown to more than 50 locations islandwide, serving workers across Singapore’s bus and rail sectors.

NTWU extends our deepest condolences to Brother Ong Ah Heng’s family and loved ones.

Thank you, Brother Ong, for your years of service and dedication to workers.

NTWU and ComfortDelGro have marked a key milestone with the signing of 9 Collective Agreements and 2 MOUs recently.

These agreements strengthen protection, progression, and support for workers, while setting the direction for how we navigate industry transformation together.

The MOUs also advance efforts in PME representation and support workers through changes such as autonomous vehicles (AVs)🚌

NTWU will continue to 💪🏼care for, protect, and fight for workers’ interests, ensuring workers remain supported as the industry evolves.✨

This May Day, we celebrate more than a rally — we celebrate unity in action. 🤝

Through the toughest times, NTUC and our Tripartite partners have stood with workers, and that solidarity continues to carry us forward today. We were proud to have our Union EXCO leaders and management partners present at the May Day Rally, standing as one. A special shoutout to John Ang, NTWU’s flag bearer, who represented us well and made us proud.

We were especially heartened by PM Wong’s mention of SMRT’s work at Bishan Depot — driven by NTWU’s leadership working closely with SMRT management. The strong CTC partnership has enabled the successful integration of technology to boost productivity and extend workers’ careers. It is a powerful example of how transformation, done right, uplifts workers — and a call for more companies to follow.

As AI becomes part of daily life, PM Wong and SG Ng reminded us that progress is a shared journey — workers and employers must adapt together to be Stronger, Better, Together. Curious about how AI support can help you? Find out more on NTUC’s website on the support announced today.

Proud to be part of a transport family that grows, supports one another, and moves forward together. Happy May Day. ❤️