From mountain crossings
As soon as dawn broke, in the factory of Lai Chau Tea Joint Stock Company, the sound of tea roasting machines and goods packaging was already booming. Workers were busy putting each bag of raw materials into the production line to meet export orders.
Amidst that urgent working pace, Mr. Hoang Van Sinh still clearly remembers the first day he was approached by trade union officials to mobilize him to participate in the organization.
For many years, this Tay ethnic man has done all kinds of jobs to earn a living. After the tea season, he goes to peel cinnamon for hire, load goods and then follows acquaintances to work seasonally at agricultural product processing workshops. Unstable income, work here and there makes him never think he will become a trade union member.
“Before, I thought the Trade Union was only for workers in large factories in the lowlands. Temporary workers like me work today, may rest tomorrow, so who would pay attention?” Mr. Sinh smiled gently.
But that thought gradually changed after many times being directly met and talked to by trade union officials.
They explained to me that if I join the Trade Union, when I am sick, in difficulty or have labor disputes, there will be someone to support me. What I cherish most is the feeling of being cared for," Mr. Sinh said.
On May 18, 2026, the grassroots Trade Union of Lai Chau Tea Joint Stock Company officially launched with the first 16 union members. For many workers here, it is not simply an organizational establishment ceremony but also a milestone showing that workers in the highlands have had more support.
Talking to us, Ms. Lo Thi Hanh - Dong Tam Trading and Service Co., Ltd. (newly established grassroots trade union on April 20, 2026) said that what made her decide to join the Trade Union was not the great slogans, but the sincerity of trade union officials.
“Some days it rains, dirt roads are slippery, but the brothers and sisters still come to the factory to ask about the work and life of workers. They talk as closely as family, so I believe it,” the female worker shared.
Going through each alley, knocking on each workshop
In the remote border region of Lai Chau, the journey of developing union members has never been easy. Many production facilities are located deep in highland communes, hundreds of kilometers from the provincial center on mountain passes. In the rainy season, many roads are landslides, mud and soil flood the wheels. In some places, trade union officials have to park their motorbikes and walk for hours to get to the production point.
Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - a trade union official in Muong Te still remembers vividly the trip to mobilize union members at a tea processing facility in a border commune at the beginning of the year.
“That day it rained drizzly all day, the dirt road was slippery like grease. The motorbike could not continue, so the brothers had to park the motorbike in the village and walk nearly 4km. Arriving there, workers were taking advantage of having lunch right next to the machinery. We sat down to chat with them,” Mr. Dung recounted.
Initially, many workers were still hesitant because they thought that joining the trade union meant paying fees but did not see specific benefits. Many people thought that seasonal work was unstable, so they did not need to participate in any organization.
If we want to mobilize workers, we must first make them believe. In some places, we go back 3-4 times to persuade a few people to register to participate," Mr. Dung said.
According to Mr. Dung, most highland workers have little access to labor law information. Some people have worked for many years but have never signed contracts or know that they have the right to pay social insurance and health insurance.
Going out a lot, I see that highland workers are much more disadvantaged. They work hard but do not know who will protect their rights when they encounter risks," he shared.
Not only at factories, trade union officials also come to small production complexes, agricultural product purchasing points, construction camps or workers' boarding houses located along national highways.
There are propaganda sessions held right on the factory porch, amidst the roaring sound of agricultural product processing machines. Some days, trade union officials have to take advantage of meeting workers during lunch breaks or late evenings because people work continuously during the day.
Many trade union officials compare the work of developing union members in mountainous areas to "going through each alley, knocking on each workshop". Each new union member is the result of perseverance, endurance and long-term cross-mountain trips.
Bringing trade unions closer to workers
According to Mr. Luong Xuan Truong - Chairman of the Lai Chau Provincial Labor Federation, the biggest difficulty in the mountainous area is not only in the fragmented terrain but also in the workers' awareness of the role of the Trade Union organization.
Many informal workers still think participating in the Trade Union is a formality, not bringing practical benefits. Therefore, trade union officials must directly go to each grassroots level, meet with each person to propagate, explain and create trust," Mr. Truong said.
Thanks to unremitting efforts, to date, the Lai Chau Provincial Labor Federation is directly managing 83 grassroots trade unions with 4,760 union members. Of which enterprises, cooperatives, and trade unions account for 73.5%.
Faced with the reality that many people frequently change workplaces, seasonally move through many localities, trade union levels in Lai Chau have strongly changed their approach. Instead of waiting for businesses to establish grassroots trade unions or workers to actively come, trade union officials are starting to actively "find union members".
Not only propaganda and mobilization, the Trade Union organization also directly supports workers when they encounter difficulties. From visiting workers injured in labor accidents, supporting union members with dangerous diseases to connecting "Trade Union Homes", each activity contributes to building trust with workers in mountainous areas.
In many localities, trade union officials even become "familiar addresses" for workers when facing difficulties. Some people call at midnight to ask for support because of wage arrears, labor disputes or accidents.
Workers in mountainous areas lack everything, so what they need most is someone to listen to and accompany them. When they feel sincere sharing, they will trust and stick with the organization," Mr. Truong expressed.
According to the Chairman of the Lai Chau Provincial Labor Federation, uphill buses, footsteps crossing forests or simple propaganda sessions in small factories on high slopes may not be noisy, but are quietly bringing the Trade Union organization closer to workers in remote border areas.
