Giving love from the battlefield
Every day, employees of the Vietnam Peace Tree Organization in Quang Tri bring rice and provisions, and the lunch takes place at a hut in the middle of the forest. But on this occasion, in response to the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union, the grassroots Trade Union of the Vietnam Peace Tree Organization in Quang Tri organized a Trade Union Meal in the midst of the blasting scene, the deep blue color and the warning of many dangers.
Chairman of the grassroots Trade Union Ho Sy Thanh shared that the unit has 230 union members, working in the forest every day, lacking everything. But when it comes to organizing a special meal, everyone is excited. Although it is hard, everyone wants to contribute to a meaningful meal.
To prepare, each union member was supported by the grassroots union with 50,000 VND. The sisters assign each other to go to the market and cook. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh cooks snakehead fish sour soup, a dish that has long been missing for lunch in the forest because it is difficult to carry. To prepare, Ms. Lan Anh went to the market the day before, early the next morning, at 4am she woke up to cook, then packed it into a large basket to take to the office and continued to the scene. In addition to sour soup, Ms. Lan Anh's colleagues each take on other dishes, such as fried fish, boiled chicken, mixed cucumber and also delicious dessert fruits.
In Tan Quang village (Hieu Giang commune), the meal was moved to the temporary command post built with a tarpaulin in the middle of the rubber forest. The space is simple but full of laughter and happy wishes. "The two sisters were very happy, because they were praised for their delicious dishes. Eating in the forest is as warm as at home" - Ms. Lan Anh was moved.
Reunion, admission of new union members
Similarly, the MAG Quang Tri Project Trade Union also organized a Union Meal right at the scene. Mr. Hoang Minh Phuong - Chairman of the Trade Union said that more than 500 union members had meals together at the camps. Each person is supported with an additional 50,000 VND, so the meals are more complete than usual.
Not only a meal, this event is also an opportunity for the MAG Quang Tri Project Trade Union to organize the admission of 26 new union members. In the warm atmosphere, applause and congratulations resounded in the forest, a rare place of collective joy amidst quiet working days.
Mr. Hoang Minh Phuong said that through that intimate meal, the solidarity and unity of workers was clearly multiplied. Companymates who used to only look at each other through masks and anti-bomb suits now sit together sharing dishes, daily stories and even the silent sacrifices that few people know about.
Not stopping at taking care of meals, the Quang Tri Provincial Federation of Labor also went to the scene to present 20 gifts to workers in difficult circumstances in the two Trade Unions mentioned above with each gift worth 500,000 VND. Mr. Nguyen The Lap - Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial Federation of Labor - said that in the harsh conditions of the special job, that attention is a great source of encouragement, helping workers feel more confident in sticking with the job.
Those meals in the deep forest, although simple, are a vivid testament to the role of the Trade Union organization in caring for the material and spiritual life of workers. Not only a meal, it is also a glue that connects, a source of energy that adds determination to the people who are silently working day by day to liberate the earth from the past of war" - Mr. Nguyen The Lap said.