For commune, ward and town trade unions to operate effectively

(Baonghean) - Implementing Decision No. 974/QD-TLĐ, dated June 29, 2004 of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on temporary regulations on the organization and operation of grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns, up to now, our province has completed the establishment and promoted the effective operation of grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns in the province.

TIn fact, grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns in Nghe An were formed quite early, from 1996 - 1997. At that time, implementing the policy of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on increasing cadres to work at the grassroots level, Vinh City Party Committee sent cadres with capacity, qualifications, good moral qualities and prestige to work as key cadres. These cadres were receiving salaries and working in Party and State agencies, now working in communes and wards without trade unions, so their activities were not suitable, and some rights and obligations of the trade union were not guaranteed.

To ensure the rights of the above union members, the Provincial Federation of Labor, together with the Vinh City Federation of Labor, surveyed, requested and decided to establish grassroots unions in wards and communes. Then, based on the actual situation of the localities, the union organizations were successively established, developed and expanded on a pilot basis in 3 communes under the Federation of Labor of Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc districts and Cua Lo town.

Officials of Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen) strengthen coordination to fulfill local tasks well. Photo: Thanh Le

In 2004, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor issued Decision No. 974/QD-TLĐ, dated June 29, 2004 of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, providing temporary regulations on the organization and operation of grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns. One year later, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee issued Directive 34-CT/TU dated November 30, 2005 on strengthening the leadership of Party committees at all levels in the establishment of non-state-owned grassroots trade unions and trade unions in communes, wards and towns. Thanks to the pilot implementation since 1996, when implementing the above policies, Nghe An trade union has caught up and implemented them effectively.

Most district, city and town Party committees have issued directives to commune Party committees to direct the establishment and assigned commune authorities to facilitate the establishment of trade unions. While by the end of 2005, the whole province had only 168 communes, wards and towns with trade unions, up to now, 480/480 communes, wards and towns have established trade unions with 15,367 union members. Each commune, ward and town trade union has about 20 union members who are cadres, civil servants and public employees working at the People's Council, People's Committee, political organizations and socio-political organizations of the commune and ward; the executive committee has 3-5 members; the rate of commune trade union executive committee officials participating in the Party Committee is over 90%, the union chairmen often hold the position of Vice Chairmen of the People's Committee and People's Council of the commune.

Quang Trung Ward Trade Union is one of the first trade unions established in Vinh City. Currently, the ward trade union has 40 union members. Mr. Le Duc Tho - Chairman of the trade union, Vice Chairman of the ward People's Committee said: "As a central ward of Vinh City, the people are mainly civil servants and business households, so the work of reforming administrative procedures, creating favorable conditions for local people to develop business services and develop the economy is identified by the ward People's Committee as a key task. In order for ward civil servants to be dedicated to their work, the ward always cares about the lives, thoughts and aspirations of the cadres through the ward trade union. Through the activities of the ward trade union, the working style and communication style of civil servants in the ward have been significantly improved, contributing to improving work efficiency".

Nghia My Commune Union (Thai Hoa Town) currently has 25 members. Ms. Cao Thi Kim Uyen - a cultural officer of the commune said: "In 2010, since working at the People's Committee of the commune, I have seen that the commune union is truly a spiritual home for local civil servants. The commune union regularly organizes cultural and sports exchange activities between commune civil servants and agencies, schools in the area and with other communes. In addition, on the occasion of the 30/4 and 1/5 holidays every year, the commune union also organizes tours for union members to many places in the country, regularly visits and helps union members in difficulty, illness, etc., so everyone feels excited because the organization cares and shares. In addition, the union fund also helps union members borrow capital to develop household economy, improve their lives, each time borrowing from 10 - 15 million VND. These practical activities make all union members more excited, secure in their work, raising their sense of responsibility, solidarity, and mutual support. friendly, loving, and helping each other in work and life

Mr. Do Dinh Quang - Chairman of the Vinh City Labor Federation assessed: "Due to the characteristics of the team of civil servants in communes, wards and towns, although the number is small (in Vinh City, it is from 30 - 50 people), they belong to different political and social organizations such as Party Committees, People's Committees, People's Councils, and mass organizations... Therefore, the establishment of grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns has helped this team to be more united and closer to each other, contributing to strengthening the coordination in implementing local political tasks. In fact, since the establishment of the trade union, cadres and civil servants in the commune are very excited because their rights and positions have been affirmed, and the working style, sense of duty and sense of serving the people of the team of cadres, civil servants and union members have been given more attention".

Mr. Le Hop Huyen - Vice Chairman of Thai Hoa Town Labor Federation commented: "Looking back at the activities of 10 commune and ward trade union organizations in the town, it can be seen that the movement of cadres, civil servants, workers and grassroots trade union activities in communes and wards have initially had strong changes and achieved many encouraging results. Cadres, civil servants, workers - union members have gradually become aware of the position, role, functions and tasks of the trade union organization and the tasks and powers of union members; performed well the assigned tasks, contributing to the excellent completion of the local political tasks".

However, in reality, the activities of grassroots trade unions in communes, wards and towns still have certain shortcomings and difficulties. In some localities, the awareness of Party committees, authorities and grassroots cadres about the position, role and function of trade union organizations is still limited, leading to a lack of attention and creating conditions for commune, ward and town trade unions to perform their functions well. Ms. Le Thi Kim Anh - Trade Union Chairwoman, Chairwoman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Nghi Lien Commune said: "The commune trade union currently has 50 members, one of the most crowded commune and ward trade unions in Vinh City. Although the locality has been merged into Vinh City since 2008, most of the union members come from farmers, so their awareness of trade unions is still limited, leading to many confusions in trade union activities. Some union members still participate in activities arbitrarily, not fulfilling their assigned responsibilities".

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ho - Deputy Head of the Provincial Federation of Labor Organization, the current chairmen of commune, ward and town trade unions are often held by vice chairmen of the People's Council, vice chairmen of the People's Committee or chairman of the Fatherland Front, who have to take on many tasks, making it difficult to invest much in trade union activities. In addition, in most localities, the operating budget of grassroots trade unions is limited to the deduction from the salary fund of cadres and civil servants, so it is difficult to meet the requirements of diversifying activities. On the other hand, part-time trade union cadres are deputy heads of mass organizations and deputy heads of specialized departments at the commune level but are not yet on the civil service payroll, have low incomes, and are not yet entitled to health insurance. If they have to buy voluntary health insurance, it will greatly affect their income. Meanwhile, the allowances and funding for these activities are still not commensurate (each person only gets a few hundred thousand VND/month, deducted from 30% of the trade union fund), so it is difficult to stimulate investment in trade union activities.

Therefore, to enhance the role of trade union organizations in communes, wards and towns, it is necessary to further strengthen propaganda work so that Party committees and authorities at all levels are more aware of the importance of trade union organizations in communes, wards and towns, thereby creating better conditions in terms of mechanisms and funding for trade union activities. In addition, there must be policies and regimes to train, support and create favorable conditions for trade union officials in communes, wards and towns to participate in studying and improving their professional qualifications, thereby creating practical activities associated with local characteristics so that workers, civil servants and laborers in communes, wards and towns are more attached to and trust the trade union organizations.

Minh Quan