Society

Lesson 2: Attracting members - A vital task

Diep Thanh - Tran Van • DNUM_ACZAJZCACE 11:42

In the new situation, developing union members and establishing grassroots unions are considered vital tasks of trade union organizations. From the process of changing awareness, creativity, and concern, Nghe An Trade Union has creatively applied Uncle Ho's lessons in mass mobilization work to overcome difficulties to achieve proud results.

Lesson 2:
Attract members -
Mission of survival

In the new situation, developing union members and establishing grassroots unions are considered vital tasks for trade union organizations. From the process of changing awareness, creativity, and concern, Nghe An Trade Union has creatively applied Uncle Ho's lessons in mass mobilization work, overcoming difficulties to achieve proud results.

Difficulties in developing union members

“The Trade Union is facing many difficulties and challenges due to economic recession, labor fluctuations, and the risk of labor relations conflicts... At the same time, the Labor Code stipulates that enterprises are allowed to establish organizations representing workers. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is also being implemented, allowing other representative organizations of workers to operate. Faced with this reality, Nghe An Trade Unions at all levels need to realize that developing union members and establishing grassroots unions is not only a task, but a vital task!” - Mr. Kha Van Tam, Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation, emphasized at a conference on developing union members and establishing grassroots unions. That spirit has been thoroughly implemented throughout the system with specific targets for each facility.

With its management characteristics, the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union is always the unit assigned the highest target of developing union members in the province. Sharing about the "mission of survival", Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - President of the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union said: "Mobilizing the establishment of grassroots unions and developing union members has never been an easy task. Since the pandemic, this task has become even more difficult. Many business owners do not correctly perceive the role and function of trade unions, thinking that establishing a trade union is time-consuming and cumbersome, deliberately ignoring and not welcoming union officials when they come to mobilize, even though they have scheduled an appointment in advance. In addition, many businesses have real difficulties in gathering workers and establishing trade unions, especially in businesses that frequently change personnel or have difficult business and production situations. Limited allowances and large workloads of trade union officials are also major reasons why many units hesitate to establish trade unions".

One of the industries that concentrates a large number of workers but is difficult to develop union members is fishing. As of the end of April 2022, Nghe An province has only one established fishing union, the Dien Bich fishing union. Explaining this, Ms. Phan Thi Trang - Head of the Organizing Committee of the Provincial Labor Federation said: “Due to the nature of the work, it is very difficult for workers in the fishing industry to concentrate and mobilize like many other industries. Moreover, the lives of people in this industry are inherently difficult, many of them do not understand the trade union organization and do not like to be bound by obligations or responsibilities. Barriers in qualifications as well as differences in life views are also reasons that make mobilization more difficult. Most of them will not open their hearts when listening to outsiders' mobilization but only trust those close to them.”

In Vinh city, although it is considered a potential area for many businesses, the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots unions still has certain barriers. “Most non-state enterprises in the city are small and medium-sized, mainly family-based service businesses, and business owners tend to avoid establishing party and union organizations. Not to mention, the authorities have not yet coordinated to inspect and supervise the implementation of policies for employees in enterprises, especially the implementation of the provisions of the Labor Law and the Trade Union Law. If there are violations, the handling is not resolute and ineffective, allowing businesses to become “immune to the law”. Subjectively, it is impossible not to mention the cause of the thin team of specialized cadres, lacking experience and skills in propaganda, mobilization, and persuasion of employers and employees” - Mr. Thai Le Cuong - Chairman of the Vinh City Labor Federation said.

The barriers of Vinh City Trade Union are also common difficulties of many district and sectoral trade unions, especially in units in mountainous areas. Localities such as Quy Chau, Que Phong, Ky Son ... are considered "white areas", weak areas in developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions for many years. That is also the reason why many full-time trade union officials complained about difficulties and determined that they could not complete their tasks when assigned targets at the Workshop "Work on developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions in the period of 2024 - 2028".

Increase "quality" - turn on "quantity"

In the face of difficulties and barriers, Nghe An Trade Union persistently adheres to the set targets with the spirit: The more difficult it is, the more effort must be made. With the motto of directing activities to the grassroots, taking the grassroots as the area of ​​operation, taking union members and workers as the target of mobilization, union officials have creatively applied the lessons of mass mobilization of Uncle Ho to overcome difficulties, helping to achieve and exceed the set targets in the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions.

To promote the strength of coordination and enlist the support of agencies and units, the Provincial Federation of Labor has established a Steering Committee for developing union members, a Team to support the development of grassroots trade union organizations in enterprises and built a plan for developing union members each year. Ms. Phan Thi Trang - Head of the Organizing Committee of the Provincial Federation of Labor said: "The Team to support the development of grassroots trade union organizations in enterprises has selected units with many enterprises that do not have trade unions and units that still have difficulties in propaganda and mobilization work to develop union members and establish grassroots trade unions for consultation, support and assistance. From here, many grassroots trade unions have also established steering committees for developing union members, building targets for developing union members according to the term and advising the Standing Committee of the district, city and town Party Committees to issue documents and directives on the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions".

Understanding that for direct workers, “it is not enough to just use newspapers, books, rallies, slogans, leaflets, and directives”, union officials have demonstrated the benefits of joining a union organization through specific activities and programs. These are direct support programs, emergency support from the Provincial Federation of Labor for union members and workers on their journey home, in boarding houses. These are Tet Sum vay shared with workers in difficult circumstances implemented at all levels. These are hotlines always ready to advise and protect the rights and legitimate interests of workers…

At the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union, union officials not only sought support and companionship from the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board since the enterprise was established, but also simultaneously applied many other practical measures. “We assign areas to each union officer to learn and grasp the characteristics of the business and production situation of the enterprise, supervise the implementation of the Labor Law at the enterprise... During direct work sessions, union officers will have many opportunities to both inspect and supervise the enterprise situation and build relationships with the company's human resources staff. The advice and answers from union officers are the basis for building the reputation and position of the organization in the eyes of the enterprise. When they need it, we enthusiastically support them, and when we need it, they will also be willing to create conditions to help and influence the business owner. There are enterprises where union officers have to persistently go back and forth up to 5 times to be able to successfully lobby. Moreover, before proposing to establish a grassroots union, union officers must demonstrate to workers the benefits of joining. To do this, the superior union must proactively care and support in advance with a sincere attitude, even when there is no organization yet. "Trade unions need to develop long-term, specific, and widespread programs," said Mr. Vuong An Nguyen, a trade union officer at the Southeast Economic Zone.

With the characteristic of concentrating a large number of enterprises, with more than 32 thousand workers in the non-state sector in 5 districts, cities and towns (Vinh, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Dien Chau, Hoang Mai), in May 2024 alone, the Trade Union officials of the Southeast Economic Zone conducted more than 20 direct working sessions with enterprises to promote and mobilize. Also in this unit, the Trade Union organization is "defined" by workers and laborers through a series of memorable events such as the "New Rhythm of Life Dance" Contest, "Elegant Youth", "Workers' Sports Tournament"... Then, after each successful program, there are always units applying to join the trade union organization. With a pioneering and practical spirit, the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union is also the creative unit, initiating the implementation of the "Trade Union Meal" program since 2021, receiving the response and love of a large number of union members and laborers. In 2024, the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union was assigned to establish 8 grassroots trade unions and recruit 7,600 new union members, but by the end of July, this unit had established 11 grassroots trade unions and recruited 7,600 new union members.

In Quynh Luu, the lesson of "being close to the people" once helped the District Labor Federation establish two fishing unions with 2,368 union members. The union officials of the Quynh Luu District Labor Federation mobilized with all their enthusiasm and perseverance to accompany and share with fishermen for a long time. “Before encouraging us to join the union, the union officials of Quynh Luu district had to go through the government to learn about us and build close relationships with prestigious people in the fishing community. It was not a formal meeting with serious chairs and tables in the hall, we only really cared and listened when they came to us on the days when the boats returned, played football with the young people in the village, ate with fishermen at sea, visited and supported fishermen in difficult circumstances… From that closeness, we felt their sincerity, saw the benefits of joining the union and agreed to establish the union” - Mr. Nguyen Van Lien, Chairman of the Dien Bich Commune Fisheries Union shared.

In the first 6 months of 2024, Vinh City Labor Federation established 27 grassroots unions (exceeding 450% of the annual target), developed 617 new ones (reaching 176.3% of the annual target), reaching 90% of the target of the 18th Congress of Vinh City Labor Union for the 2023-2028 term on union member development and establishment of grassroots unions. The above impressive number is the "sweet fruit" of the creative and innovative efforts in the activities of this unit. Online competitions, union cadre competitions, worker forums, sports tournaments... organized by Vinh City Labor Union always receive high response with great influence. “We have been persistent in approaching and creating a friendly relationship with employers so that they understand, agree with and support the union, while investing human resources, time and funds in propaganda work to develop union members and establish grassroots unions. At the same time, we have diversified the forms of propaganda to suit each target group,” said Mr. Thai Le Cuong, Chairman of the Vinh City Labor Federation.

In 2024, the Provincial Federation of Labor set a target of establishing 40 grassroots unions and developing 15,600 union members. In the first 9 months of the year, the whole province admitted 19,838 new union members, the number of union members increased by 15,696 people compared to the beginning of the year, reaching 100.62% of the target assigned by the General Confederation in 2024; 73/40 new grassroots unions were established, reaching 182.5% of the year's target; 40 grassroots unions were established with over 25 union members, reaching 200% of the target in 2024. At the same time, 2 grassroots unions were established in the informal sector... Notably, in May alone, Workers' Month 2024, unions at all levels established 31 new grassroots unions with more than 2,500 union members. This is the best achievement in propaganda and mobilization to attract union members to the union organization ever of Nghe An Provincial Union.

Identifying the Party development work among union members as one of the important contents for strengthening the nature of the working class, contributing to improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, Nghe An Trade Union has focused on discovering, nurturing and introducing outstanding union members to the Party organization. In the first 8 months of 2024, the whole province introduced 1,668 outstanding union members to attend Party admission training courses. To achieve the above results, union levels went to each enterprise to grasp the situation of Party members; mobilized enterprises to establish Party organizations; advised and proposed to the government to open Party awareness training classes specifically for workers working outside of working hours...

The above achievements are the result of the synchronous and creative implementation of many solutions by trade unions at all levels in the province. Each cadre and party member of Nghe An Trade Union is deeply aware that he or she is a mass mobilization cadre of the Party, a reliable support for workers. Attracting and gathering a large number of union members and workers into the trade union organization has become a vital task, not only increasing the strength of the trade union organization, but also consolidating the class strength in the political apparatus.