President Ho Chi Minh and the working class and trade union organizations.

(Baonghean.vn) - Beloved Uncle Ho was not only the founder and mentor of our Party, but also the one who laid the foundation and theory for the establishment of the Vietnam Trade Union organization. He early recognized and affirmed the historical mission and immense role of the Vietnamese working class and the trade union organization in the struggle for national independence and freedom, as well as in building and defending the Fatherland.

For President Ho Chi Minh, the trade union was the school of communism. To implement it effectively, trade union officials must instill and educate workers in the spirit of collective ownership and frugality in building the nation.

The call was for trade unions at all levels to unite and coordinate with each other across organizations and industries; to combat the mentality of waiting, relying on others, and parochialism; to have a plan to cultivate heroes and exemplary workers to promote their role models and leading impact; and for intellectual workers and scientific and technical personnel, to have a plan to help them continuously progress.

President Ho Chi Minh visits the families of workers at the Trade Union Cadre Training School, 1961. (Archival photo)

Trade unions must do a good job of protecting workers' rights and genuinely care for the food and housing of their employees. Within the trade union organization, genuine democracy must be practiced, coupled with respect for collective leadership. Every directive or resolution must be for the common good of the masses, and the level of understanding of the masses must be assessed to determine the actual results and make necessary adjustments. Whatever is done must be well-prepared and have a practical plan.

Speaking at the Second National Trade Union Congress in February 1961, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: "Inventions, innovations, and technical improvements are also important issues. If the Trade Union knows how to encourage, apply, improve, and widely disseminate these innovations, then labor productivity will continuously increase."

In 1969, during discussions with the leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, President Ho Chi Minh clearly stated: “The trade union needs to focus on strongly promoting the collective ownership role of workers and employees in participating in enterprise management, economic management, and state management to effectively implement the three revolutions: the revolution in production relations, the technical revolution, and the ideological and cultural revolution. The trade union must protect workers' genuine rights in the enterprise, their right to criticize everything and everyone in the enterprise. They have the right to express their opinions on all issues related to enterprise management, production, and life… There must be genuine democracy in the election of trade union executive committees, electing people who truly represent them. In short, workers must be made aware of all the activities of the enterprise and the economic and cultural life of society; only then can the ownership role of the working class be fully promoted.”

President Ho Chi Minh meeting with workers at the Gia Lam Railway Factory, Hanoi, in 1955. Archival photo.

Speaking at the 1962 Conference of grassroots trade union officials throughout Northern Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh expressed his wish that trade union officials should possess courage, unwavering determination, and resolve to overcome difficulties and fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party. Trade union officials must be knowledgeable about production, the lives and aspirations of workers and employees, understand the Party's policies, and be knowledgeable about economic management, science, and technology. Trade union officials "must be proficient in both politics and economics" in order to lead a workforce that is increasingly developing and possesses high levels of ideological, cultural, and technical skills.

Uncle Ho reminded: Trade union officials must participate in labor and be close to workers and employees. How can trade union officials fulfill their duties if they are distant from the workers? To educate workers well, first and foremost, the team of trade union officials must be united and in agreement. We must resolutely build unity and agreement within the trade union system.

President Ho Chi Minh visits the Thong Nhat match factory in the early years of economic recovery (1956). Archival photo.

In their work: "Trade union officials must eat, live, work, and discuss matters with the workers." Every worker and employee must voluntarily and consciously maintain labor discipline, work the full eight precious hours, protect public property, and practice thrift.

The speaker asserted: Our country is poor; to achieve prosperity, we must work diligently, considering labor as a sacred duty, a source of livelihood, and a source of happiness for everyone and for future generations. Cadres, workers, and employees have understood this, and therefore have strived to work well. However, some still do not understand this correctly and are therefore lazy in their work.

Uncle Ho noted: "If everyone is enthusiastic but some workers are lazy, it won't work. To maintain labor discipline, there must be enthusiasm and creativity. Enthusiasm and creativity are shown through competition. Competition is not rivalry. Everyone must strive for progress, not keep their skills a secret, those with more experience should guide those who follow, so that everyone can progress together."

President Ho Chi Minh with delegates attending the First National Congress of Heroes, Emulation Fighters and Exemplary Cadres (May 1952). Archival photo.

Throughout the development of the Vietnam Trade Union organization, alongside focusing on building and strengthening the organization, President Ho Chi Minh consistently reminded and called upon the working class to participate in patriotic emulation movements. Based on President Ho Chi Minh's ideas, the Vietnam Trade Union launched many famous emulation movements and achieved tremendous results, such as: the "Patriotic Emulation" movement, "Increased Production," "Productivity - Quality - Efficiency," "Excellent Labor," "Good at National Affairs, Good at Home Affairs," "Initiative and Saving," and "Serving the Cause of Industrialization, Modernization of Agriculture and Rural Development"...

Throughout his life, he always had a special affection for and devoted much time to building the working class and developing the trade union organization. He always had a strong desire to build a pioneering, advanced, modern class, representative of the Vietnamese nation and people.

Until the very last moment of his life, he remained wholeheartedly devoted to the indomitable spirit and strength of the working class, because more than anyone else, he deeply understood that the future and destiny of the nation depended largely on this vanguard class.

President Ho Chi Minh visits textile factory workers on March 8, 1965. (Archival photo)

Uncle Ho's views and teachings on trade unions and trade union officials, from his last meeting with trade union leaders in July 1969 to the present day, have been relevant for 48 years. Since then, especially since the country's reform period, the socio-economic situation in Vietnam has changed profoundly. The knowledge and professional skills of the working class and intellectuals have continuously improved.

Trade unions and their officials are constantly innovating and fulfilling their function of caring for and protecting the legitimate rights of workers. Vietnamese trade union officials always remember President Ho Chi Minh's heartfelt teachings: To organize and develop the vast force of the working class, a strong trade union and good trade union officials are necessary.

Peace

(Synthetic)