Improving the quality of grassroots union officials in Nghe An

DIFFICULTIES AND LIMITATIONS

In recent times, the Trade Union organization in general andNghe An Trade UnionIn particular, the trade union has built trust and become a solid support for workers in the area. Through the benefits recorded in the collective labor agreement, the struggles to protect workers' rights, the experiences in resolving strikes, the dialogues with employers, the support programs, and encouragement for union members and workers in difficult circumstances... it can be seen that the role of the trade union organization in representing, caring for, and protecting the rights and interests of workers has been done very well.

Grassroots union officials are the force closest to workers. Photo: DT

However, in addition to the achieved results, the activities of the trade union staff, especially the grassroots trade unions at enterprises, still reveal shortcomings and limitations that need to be overcome. With many years of experience working with grassroots trade unions at enterprises, Mr. Vuong An Nguyen - ChairmanSoutheast Economic Zone Unionshared: “Some common limitations of grassroots trade unions in enterprises are low representation of workers, limited time for trade union activities, unreasonable assignment of tasks in the trade union executive committee, causing the workload of the grassroots trade union chairman to be too much... According to Mr. Nguyen, the main reason for these limitations is because trade union officials often hold concurrent positions, they are also employees in the enterprise, their salaries and jobs depend on the enterprise, so the time, position and voice of grassroots trade union officials are dependent. In addition, most of the grassroots trade union officials in enterprises are young, enthusiastic, creative and energetic, but their experience in negotiation, dialogue and work management division skills are still limited.

Many grassroots union officials in the Southeast Economic Zone face difficulties when negotiating with business owners about workers' rights and benefits. Photo: DT

The comments of the President of the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union are also the concerns of many grassroots trade union presidents at enterprises. Ms. NC - President of a trade union of an enterprise with a large number of workers at Nam Cam Industrial Zone confided: "Many times I proposed to the company's leaders about increasing the budget for workers' meals, but they were all rejected and even criticized. I myself am also an employee, I also need to keep my job, so I cannot be resolute in demanding workers' rights."

In addition to the above difficulties and limitations, Mr. Pham Duc Cuong - ChairmanDien Chau District Labor FederationIt is also believed that some union officials are not truly dedicated to union activities, and take on the position of union official just for the sake of fame without any real contribution. This leads to the dim role of union organizations at the grassroots level.

IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND WORKING SKILLS

Understanding the importance of union cadres, at the 18th Congress, Nghe An Trade Union identified one of the three breakthroughs as "Improving the quality and qualifications of union cadres". Mr. Kha Van Tam - Member of the Provincial Party 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 to innovate in content, methods of operation, and improve the quality of the trade union staff, especially the 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 rights and legitimate interests of union members and workers through collective labor agreements, union member welfare, dialogue... When grassroots trade union staff perform well the function of representing and protecting workers, they will attract and gather workers to their organization”.

To implement the 2021 theme, trade unions at all levels need to organize many practical and specific training courses for grassroots trade union officials. Photo: PV

In 2020, Nghe An Trade Union organized 102 training courses on professional skills and trade union activities for nearly 17,000 full-time trade union officials and grassroots trade unions with a total budget of more than 1.7 billion VND. The training content mainly focused on the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, term XII; the revised Labor Code 2019; the revised Law on Civil Servants and Public Employees; women's activities; activities of the Inspection Committee; activities of the People's Inspectorate; financial operations; trade unions with the function of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers... The team of part-time lecturers of the Provincial Federation of Labor is regularly updated with knowledge and skills, meeting the requirements of training to improve knowledge in all aspects for grassroots trade union officials.

To improve the quality of grassroots union officials, training courses for grassroots union officials are essential. Photo: PV

To carry out the key tasks in 2021, the Provincial Federation of Labor will continue to pay attention to training, focusing on improving the capacity of grassroots trade union officials and providing guidance documents for each level of trade union. Accordingly, the 3 main groups of contents to be implemented will be: Improving the quality of grasping and understanding of the law, promoting training, fostering professional qualifications, political theory, and operational skills of grassroots trade union officials; Improving dialogue skills, promoting the proactive and active role of grassroots trade unions in organizing negotiations, signing and supervising the implementation of collective labor agreements, wages, democratic conferences and workers' conferences; Creating favorable conditions for grassroots trade unions to negotiate and negotiate wages for workers in 2021, promoting the role of union members in proposing content, performing tasks and supervising the activities of grassroots trade unions and grassroots trade union executive committees.

After a long time of being accompanied and supported by the Dien Chau District Labor Federation, thousands of workers at VietGlory Company Limited voluntarily wrote applications to join the union. Photo: PV

As one of the highly appreciated units in improving the quality of grassroots union cadres, in recent years,Dien Chau District Trade Unionhas built an important position in the hearts of workers, influencing businesses. Mr. Pham Duc Cuong shared: “The training courses on legal knowledge and professional skills of trade union activities organized by the District Labor Federation every year are closely following the project of the Provincial Labor Federation, with specific content, linked to needs, suitable for the target audience and implemented in a hands-on manner. We also regularly propose to the Party Committee and leaders of agencies and units to create conditions for union members to study and improve their professional qualifications and political level...”.

Sharing his experience in improving the quality of grassroots trade union cadres at enterprises, Mr. Vuong An Nguyen added: “In addition to training courses, we also create conditions for grassroots trade unions to share and learn from each other’s experiences. Above all, grassroots trade unions need to regularly stay close to the grassroots, promptly encourage, guide and advise grassroots trade unions to resolve problems and issues that arise. Because grassroots trade union cadres, especially in the business sector, are constantly fluctuating and changing, the grassroots trade unions need to support the consolidation of grassroots trade union executive committees in accordance with practical requirements.”

In order to implement the theme of improving the quality of grassroots trade union officials and celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Provincial Federation of Labor will organize an online conference to meet grassroots trade union officials on July 26. The program is an opportunity for grassroots trade union officials in the province to directly dialogue with the Standing Committee of the Provincial Federation of Labor, and an occasion to honor the contributions and dedication of trade union officials. Delegates will also listen to the Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor discuss the opportunities and challenges of the 4.0 industrial revolution, dialogue skills, negotiation and signing of collective labor agreements.