Nghe An Trade Union: Spreading the program 'Cooling down the summer'

TO YOUR PLACE, DELIVERED TO YOUR HAND

Since being launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the “Summer Cooling” program has been implemented and maintained annually by Nghe An Trade Unions at all levels. Accordingly, trade unions at all levels have had many practical activities to take care of the health and share the difficulties and hardships of workers when having to work in harsh hot weather conditions.

As a person who regularly participates directly in the "Summer Cooling" programs in the area, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor FederationNguyen Thi Thu Nhishared: “In the early stages of implementation, the Provincial Federation of Labor actively directed and guided the grassroots trade unions to implement. With their attention and enthusiasm, the units had specific activities such as giving drinking water, soft drinks, cooling systems, and heat protection for workers. The humanity of this activity made “Summer Cooling” quickly responded to, spread and maintained until now.”

Nghe An trade unions at all levels went to workers' homes and workplaces to carry out the "Summer Cooling" program. Photo: Contributor

The Agriculture and Rural Development Trade Union is one of the units that has been highly appreciated for the effectiveness of the "Summer Cooling" program for many consecutive years. To summarize this year's Workers' Month, the trade union of this industry organized the "Summer Cooling" program at 6 grassroots trade unions. Accordingly, at each unit, the trade unionAgriculture and Rural Developmentsupporting gifts including fresh milk and drinking water worth 4 million VND, the total amount for the program is 24 million VND. The program is also an opportunity for union officials to get closer to workers, directly care, ask, and understand more about the lives and aspirations of workers.

Also by going directly to the site, the officials of the Vinh City Labor Union handed over gifts from the “Summer Cooling” program to the workers of Nghe An Urban and Environment Joint Stock Company who were fighting the fire at Nghi Yen Solid Waste Treatment Complex during the recent peak of the heat.

Vinh City Labor Federation presents "Summer Cooling" gifts to workers at Nghi Yen Solid Waste Treatment Complex. Photo: Contributor

Nghi Yen Solid Waste Treatment Complex is the largest waste treatment area in Nghe An province. In early June, prolonged hot weather and strong winds caused fires to flare up from landfills and spread widely, making firefighting difficult. Nghe An Urban and Environment Joint Stock Company mobilized staff and workers to work 3 shifts a day, 50 people per shift to control the fire. Under thescorching heat, the stench was strong, hands and feet were covered with wounds caused by glass shards, the workers struggled to control the fire as quickly as possible. Sharing the difficulties and hardships of the workers, the Vinh City Labor Federation went to the scene to give milk and drinking water worth 4.5 million VND to encourage the staff and workers directly participating in fire fighting. The gift was not large, but this timely and sincere concern made the workers who were fighting the fire here very emotional. This good sentiment contributed to creating trust and attachment between workers and the trade union organization.

Dien Chau District Labor Federation donated 158 cartons of fresh milk to several companies with a large number of workers in the "Summer Cooling" program on the occasion of Workers' Month. Photo: Contributor

Workers at construction sites are also directly affected by extreme summer weather. Understanding this, the delegation of the Nghe An Transport Trade Union organized a visit and presented gifts to workers working on the Muong Xen - Ta Do - Khe Kien road project (Ky Son district) and National Highways 46 and 48E of grassroots trade unions in the transport sector. In addition to cartons of milk and coolers, the Nghe An Transport Trade Union also sent industrial fans, masks and cash to the workers right at the camp.

Nghe An Civil Servants' Union supports industrial steam fan businesses to serve workers on hot days. Photo: Contributor

Most recently,Nghe An Civil Servants' Uniondonated 500 boxes of milk worth 2.5 million VND to support and encourage the union members of the Nghe An Market Management Department and the Nghe An Farmers' Association to rescue agricultural products to help farmers. This timely concern not only demonstrates the union's support for union members and workers, but also demonstrates the role of the union in social activities.

The image of trade unions handing out cups of water, cartons of milk, and nutritious drinks to workers right at the production site and workplace has become a powerful image. This spread has quickly become a beautiful movement down to the grassroots trade unions.

SPREAD DOWN TO EACH FACILITY

With their creativity, the grassroots unions have implemented the “Summer Cooling” program flexibly and appropriately for their units. At Royal Foods Nghe An Co., Ltd. (Dong Nam Economic Zone), the “Summer Cooling” program does not take place in one day or one occasion but takes place throughout the summer, from the beginning of April to the end of September.

Accordingly, the company's canteen is always ready with healthy cooling drinks such as chrysanthemum tea, lemonade, plantain juice, yogurt... to serve workers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, a worker at Royal Foods Nghe An Company Limited, confided: "Before deciding on cooling drinks for workers, the company's union always holds an executive meeting, surveys each group and gets each person's opinion. All drinks at the canteen are not only delicious but also ensure food safety and are good for health. This year, the canteen has a new drink, matcha tea, which is also a cooling drink. Only by working hard in hot conditions can we feel the value of large glasses of cool water. The concern of the company's union is the motivation for us to try harder at work." According to Ms. Nga, the company has recently replaced part of the glass partition with a heat-insulating partition to protect workers from the heat.

Nafoods Group Joint Stock Company prepares many healthy drinks at the canteen. Photo: Contributor

Also lasting throughout the summer, the "Summer Cooling" program at Hoa Sen Nam Cam Nghe An Company Limited brought boxes of iced lemons to the workplace for workers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen - Chairwoman of the company's Union shared: "Because of the Covid-19 epidemic, we have limited the gathering of large numbers of people. The company's characteristic is that workers are scattered in production lines located far apart. Therefore, the company's union has to bring water to each point and ensure that there is always water to serve the workers. In addition, we also place water heaters in many places in the factory."

Thien Phu Packaging Production Company Limited (Nghi Loc district) changes its cooling menu during summer days. Photo: Contributor

Unlike businesses whose target audience is direct workers, the Trade Union of Nghia Khanh Secondary School (Nghia Dan) organized the program "Summer Cooling" combined with "Exam Support" to serve its target audience, teachers and students. To implement the program, the school's trade union developed a plan and raised funds, assigned people to cook sweet soup, and ordered milk tea from reputable suppliers. According to Mr. Hoa Thanh Nga - Chairman of the School's Trade Union, 3 important factors to note when implementing the program are: Compact, scientifically arranged, ensuring epidemic prevention, avoiding crowds, avoiding jostling; ensuring food safety; ensuring environmental sanitation. The recent 10th grade entrance exam took place in extremely hot conditions, the cups of sweet soup and milk tea from the school's trade union, although small, were a great source of encouragement for teachers and students.

Grassroots unions under the Nghia Dan District Labor Federation have been very creative in organizing the "Summer Cooling" program. Photo: Contributor

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang - Vice President of the Labor Federation of Nghia Dan District said: "In the beginning, to implement the program at grassroots unions, we often spent time preparing, working with the company, and discussing with leaders of the units. Up to now, when grassroots unions have clearly understood the importance of taking care of workers' health, they have chosen appropriate and creative forms of implementation. Some units combine to serve the exam season, some units deploy to serve the election day, some units combine with dialogue conferences...".

Cool glasses of water and boxes of yogurt from the union organization have cooled down workers on hot days. Photo: Contributor