According to Resolution 02-NQ/TW, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor needs to continue to arrange and perfect the organizational model in a new direction, improve the effectiveness of the 4-level trade union organization model, focus on improving the quality of grassroots trade unions and have a suitable model to attract, gather and protect workers in the informal sector... The "key" to doing this is a team of "professional, intelligent, brave, dedicated and responsible" trade union officials.
Understanding the importance of union officials, at the 18th Congress, Nghe An Trade Union identified one of the three breakthroughs in the 2018-2023 term as "Improving the quality and qualifications of union officials". Accordingly, the training and fostering of union officials is focused on innovation in the direction of professionalism, training and fostering content according to each topic, job position and supplementing skills to handle situations arising in practice. From 2021 to present, a series of training courses on union member development skills, establishment of grassroots unions, dialogue skills, negotiation, financial operations, accounting, inspection, legal advice, settlement of labor disputes, strikes, presentation skills, design of propaganda products; news writing skills; dialogue skills... have been continuously organized. Training also applies information technology to facilitate union officials to access training programs conveniently and easily. In 2021-2022, the total number of union officials trained and fostered is 23,596 people. It is expected that in 2023, Nghe An Trade Union will organize 124 professional training courses, including 8 provincial-level courses and 116 district-level and industry-level courses.
At the same time, the Provincial Federation of Labor passed the Resolution "Strengthening the role of Nghe An Trade Unions at all levels in improving the quality and quantity of collective labor agreements in enterprises in the period of 2022-2028"; developing the Project "Improving the quality and efficiency of grassroots trade union activities in the Southeast Economic Zone and grassroots trade unions with a large number of workers"; Developing the Project "Some solutions to prevent and limit strikes that do not follow legal procedures in Nghe An province in the period of 2022-2030". The above synchronization, consistency and determination are not only the premise for attracting union members and workers, building a strong trade union organization, adapting to the operating environment in the conditions of economic integration but also contributing to the socio-economic development of Nghe An province in the coming years.
One of the most noticeable contents from the training and education work is the outstanding innovation in propaganda work. From training courses on writing news articles, taking photos, designing publications, etc., Nghe An Trade Union has built a team of specialized trade union cadres who are proficient in multimedia communication skills and proficient in applying information technology. “In addition to writing articles, taking photos, and filming, full-time union officials can now also proactively design frames, banners, infographics, and make videos... News articles on the Nghe An Trade Union's website and communication work for large and small union events are all undertaken by union officials. Many of them have become regular contributors to the press. Many individuals and groups have also won high prizes in provincial and national propaganda and mobilization competitions. Nghe An is also one of the leading units in the national trade union system to develop and issue a plan to implement digital transformation,” noted Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi, Vice President of the Provincial Labor Federation.
When the union staff is trained and equipped with dialogue and negotiation skills, the interests of workers will inevitably improve, labor relations will be harmonious and stable, and illegal strikes will be minimized. Currently, the whole province has 476/558 enterprises (including 4 fishing unions) with collective labor agreements. Collective labor agreements have many welfare contents higher than those prescribed by law, such as working hours, rest time, wages, bonuses, benefits for female workers, quality of shift meals, shift meal allowances, seniority, etc.
Mr. Kha Van Tam - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial Labor Federation commented: “The trend of globalization, international integration and the 4.0 industrial revolution requires the Trade Union organization to innovate in content, methods of operation, and improve the quality of the trade union staff, especially grassroots trade union staff at enterprises. Grassroots trade union staff are the extended arm, the representative face of the trade union organization, closest to the workers. This force must be enthusiastic, dedicated, capable and knowledgeable to be able to participate in contributing to the unit, thereby building many policies to care for and protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers through collective labor agreements, union member welfare, dialogue, etc. When grassroots trade union staff perform well the function of representing and protecting workers, they will attract and gather workers to the organization”.
To achieve and exceed the target of developing union members for the period 2022 - 2025 and vision to 2030, Nghe An trade unions at all levels have established a Steering Committee for developing union members, establishing grassroots trade unions with specific action plans and goals. The Provincial Federation of Labor has also organized training on "Skills in mobilizing, establishing grassroots trade unions and developing union members" for full-time union officials; closely coordinated with functional agencies to grasp, survey, and forecast the situation of workers and enterprises without trade unions, develop plans to mobilize, develop union members, and establish grassroots trade unions.
The task of mobilizing the establishment of grassroots unions and developing union members has never been an easy task for trade unions, especially after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, based on the capacity, enthusiasm and determination of the union staff, Nghe An Trade Union has had many good ways to exceed the target of developing union members.
Sharing his approach to promoting the establishment of grassroots unions, Mr. Vuong An Nguyen - Chairman of the Southeast Economic Zone Union said: “We utilize our knowledge to advise and directly support businesses when there is an opportunity. This not only strengthens the position of the union but also helps build relationships between union officials and the business’s human resources. When there is a good, trusting relationship, the business’s human resources will support the union in persuading business owners to establish grassroots unions and organize union activities.”
Similarly, in Thanh Chuong, Dien Chau, Nghia Dan districts, through visits, consultations on resolving labor relations problems, and guidance on paperwork, the grassroots union staff gradually gained the trust of businesses, affirming the organization’s position. Many businesses therefore voluntarily joined the union and proactively paid union dues without persuasion.
In Workers' Month 2022, the union officials of Quynh Luu district made their mark by establishing two new fishing unions with a total of 2,368 union members. “The team of union officials of Quynh Luu district came to us fishermen with sincerity, openness and perseverance. They proactively supported, presented national flags, gifts, and visited us in our difficult circumstances even though we were not union members. They enthusiastically answered our questions related to our regime and policies. They enthusiastically participated in the activities of the fishing village as if they were fishermen themselves... That sincerity and perseverance convinced us” – Mr. Vu Ngoc Chat – Chairman of the Fishing Union of Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district confided.
After establishing two new fishing unions, the Provincial Federation of Labor organized the first training conference for four unions in Nghe An province. The event was an opportunity for fishermen to connect with each other, understand more about each other, understand more about the organization and bond with the union...
