The Labor Federation of Lang Son province has developed a project to establish commune and ward trade unions, suitable for the two-level local government model. According to the plan, 8 units are expected to be established, including trade unions of Dong Kinh, Ky Lua, Tam Thanh, Luong Van Tri wards and Dong Dang, Huu Lung, Cai Kinh, Tuan Son communes.
In which, Dong Kinh Ward Trade Union has the largest scale with 45 grassroots trade unions and 2,555 union members. Ky Lua Ward Trade Union manages 29 grassroots trade unions, 2,095 union members; Huu Lung Commune Trade Union has 18 grassroots trade unions, 1,221 union members; Tam Thanh Ward Trade Union has 21 grassroots trade unions, 1,112 union members.
The remaining four units include Luong Van Tri Ward Trade Union with 900 union members, Dong Dang Commune Trade Union with 861 union members, Tuan Son Commune Trade Union with 430 union members and Cai Kinh Commune Trade Union with 335 union members.
In total, 8 commune and ward trade unions are expected to receive 151 grassroots trade unions with 9,509 members. Each unit is proposed to arrange one full-time trade union official. The remaining 77 grassroots trade unions with 7,917 members continue to be directly managed and guided by the Trade Union Affairs Committee under the Provincial Labor Federation.
Before operating the two-level local government model, the Provincial Labor Federation managed 13 directly superior grassroots trade unions, 1,303 grassroots trade unions with 46,096 union members.
After arrangement, 13 upper-level trade unions directly under the grassroots level ended their operations. The province also dissolved 1,101 grassroots trade unions with 30,773 union members belonging to administrative agencies and non-business units receiving all salaries from the budget.
Workers who work under contract and do not receive all salaries from the budget are still union members. However, in some areas, the lack of grassroots trade unions as before makes it difficult to gather, care for and receive workers' petitions.
Ms. Be Thi Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairwoman of the Lang Son Provincial Labor Federation, said that the formation of commune and ward trade unions will shorten the distance between trade union organizations and workers, helping to promptly grasp thoughts, aspirations and issues arising at the grassroots level.
This will also be a focal point for coordination with Party committees and authorities in caring for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers; and at the same time guiding grassroots trade unions to negotiate and sign collective labor agreements, resolve disputes and develop union members.
Mr. Do Minh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Na Sam commune, acknowledged that after arrangement, a part of workers no longer have grassroots trade unions to operate. This may cause concerns related to salaries, insurance, welfare and working conditions not to be reflected promptly.
Mr. Tuan assessed that, from the perspective of heads of Party committees and localities, they hope to soon have a suitable trade union model to gather workers, act as a bridge with Party committees and authorities and protect their legitimate rights. Representative organizations in the area also help localities proactively grasp the situation, handle arising issues and maintain stability at the grassroots level.
According to the project, commune and ward trade unions have legal status, seals, private accounts and are arranged to work at the same location as the headquarters of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the commune level. The trade union chairman is expected to be concurrently appointed by a vice chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee at the same level.
Lang Son currently has 6,109 enterprises with about 50,500 workers. The province forecasts that by 2030 there will be about 18,000 operating enterprises, attracting about 60,000 more workers, posing greater requirements for the work of representing and protecting workers at the grassroots level.
