Trade union chairman proposes on salaries and benefits, benefiting workers more than 1 billion VND

The mark of more than 10 years as a trade union chairman

Ms. Diep (born in 1958) has worked at Phan Thiet University (Vietnam Education Union) since 2014, and has been the Chairman of the Trade Union of Phan Thiet University since 2015. The grassroots trade union currently has 132 members, of which 77 are female members.

Ms. Diep said that for more than 10 years as chairman of the trade union, closely attached to union members and workers, she and the Executive Committee of the Trade Union of Phan Thiet University have developed many specific care policies. Among them, many policies have been implemented, helping union members and workers feel more secure in their work, contributing to building harmonious labor relations. Typical is the policy of supporting travel expenses. Phan Thiet University has a policy of additional support for actual tourism expenses annually for officials, teachers, and workers organized by the school's Trade Union. In addition, timely care for holidays, Tet and illnesses is organized.

The contents on leave, holiday, working conditions and occupational safety and health are clearly regulated; 100% of union members at Phan Thiet University are guaranteed to fully participate in social insurance and health insurance regimes according to regulations.

Some policies proposed by the trade union, the school is in the process of considering are policies for the Project Management Board and considering periodic salary increases and position allowances. Accordingly, the Rector of Phan Thiet University committed to having a policy to train the Project Management Board after completing the construction and expansion of the school campus. At the same time, proposals from employees on increasing allowances, annual salary increases (5%/year, to compensate for price slippage) or supplementing support policies for the positions of Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Faculty delegation are all recorded by the Board of Directors to ask for opinions from the School Council and adjust internal spending regulations to be appropriate.

Making billions of VND in profit for union members and workers

In the period 2023 - 2025 alone, Ms. Diep actively coordinated with the Board of Directors of Phan Thiet University to organize periodic and unscheduled dialogues at the workplace, integrated into the Workers' Conference. Thanks to that, recommendations on salaries, welfare and working conditions were resolved promptly, bringing a total benefit to workers estimated at about 450 million VND.

Regarding the contents of negotiation in the collective labor agreement, Ms. Diep and the Executive Committee of the grassroots trade union directly participated in negotiation, signing and supervising the implementation of the agreement with many clauses that are more beneficial to workers than legal regulations. The total value of profit from this agreement is estimated at about 600 million VND.

In addition, the Trade Union of Phan Thiet University also focuses on propagating labor laws and professional training for union members, helping to raise awareness, create consensus and ensure that no labor disputes or illegal strikes occur at the school.

Sharing with Lao Dong reporters, Ms. Diep said: "The lucky thing and also my most solid support is always receiving attention, recognition and encouragement from the Vietnam Education Union; in-depth direction and orientation from the school's Party Committee. It is the understanding and openness of the School Council and the Board of Directors in periodic dialogues that has helped the thoughts and recommendations of workers to always be listened to and resolved promptly".

Also according to Ms. Diep, Phan Thiet University is a non-public educational institution, with limited financial resources while the need to care for the lives of workers is increasing - this is the biggest concern of trade union officials. This reality requires her to be subtle in grasping thoughts, skillfully dialoguing and negotiating to harmonize the interests between the school and workers...

After all, when a new collective labor agreement with many more beneficial points was signed, looking at the complacent smiles of the brothers and sisters, I saw that all the hardships were completely worthy. More than 10 years of attachment, the Trade Union is not only a responsibility but also a passion, a warm colleague relationship...", Ms. Diep shared.