Of these, 26 new houses were built and 13 houses were repaired. For many years, the “Union Shelters - Comradely Love” have brought endless joy and happiness to union members in the army.
Unspoken emotions
Around this time last year, on December 15, 2023, the house of Ms. Tran Thi Phuong - a member of the grassroots union of the Ba Dinh Square Management Board, the Command for the Protection of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, was completely burned down. All of the family's property was destroyed by the fire.
Ms. Phuong is a worker in the Environmental Sanitation Team, Ba Dinh Square Management Board. Her family of 7 has a low income, and is already in difficulty, but after the house burned down, the difficulty increased many times over. Understanding the situation and wishes of the union members, the Political Department of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command sent a dispatch to the National Defense Union Committee to request an emergency hardship allowance for Ms. Phuong.
Then, very quickly, on January 5, 2024, the National Defense Trade Union Committee organized a donation of funds to repair the house "Union Shelter - Comradely Love" to Ms. Tran Thi Phuong - a person with housing difficulties with the amount of 35,000,000 VND.
In addition, from December 20, 2023 to January 5, 2024, with the launch of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command Union, all officers, employees, and union members of the Union participated in supporting a total amount of 50,000,000 VND. Along with that, the Command Union provided an emergency hardship allowance of 3,000,000 VND to Ms. Tran Thi Phuong's family.
Before the sincere feelings, the timely encouragement, the warm camaraderie and the affection of the Trade Union, Ms. Tran Thi Phuong was very moved. She was choked up, unable to speak, but the tears that were about to flow were her deep gratitude. The Trade Union was there to help her and her family in the most difficult times.
On December 12, One Member Company 16 (Army Corps 16) held an inauguration ceremony and awarded funding to support the construction of "Union Shelter - Comradely Love" houses in 2024 for union members of Farm 726 who are facing housing difficulties.
Authorized by the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the 16th Corps Command, Farm 726 inaugurated and awarded funding to build and repair 3 "Union Shelter - Comradely Love" houses. Of which, 1 newly built house for the family of union member Nguyen Thi Trinh was supported with 80 million VND; 2 repaired houses for the families of union member Nguyen Thi Thuy and union member Nguyen Thi Mai, each house was supported with 35 million VND. The total funding to support the union members' families is 150 million VND, drawn from the National Defense Union Fund.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Trang - Party Secretary, Political Commissar of Regiment 726, the program "Union Shelter - Comradely Love" launched by the National Defense Union Committee, General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army has profound humanistic significance, demonstrating the spirit of mutual love; expressing the affection and concern of all levels of the Union for the lives of cadres and union members in the entire Army Corps 16 in general and the Union members of Farm 726 in particular. The program not only makes the dream of a house for union members and workers in difficult circumstances come true but also contributes significantly to fostering trust and confidence in the Union organization.
Not only taking care of its union members, the union organization in the Army also cares for and supports workers in general. The National Defense Trade Union Committee has coordinated with units such as the General Department of Defense Industry, the General Department of Logistics, the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank... to support people affected by storms and floods and visit and give gifts to officers and soldiers participating in helping people overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 in 8 provinces (Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh) with a total amount of 700 million VND...
Teamwork and friendship
Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc - Member of the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Head of the National Defense Trade Union - said that for soldiers, the two words "comrade" have a sacred and extremely close meaning. Every soldier is ready to share food and clothes; ready to sacrifice himself for his comrades, for the noble goal of completing the assigned mission.
Since 2004, the National Defense Trade Union has established the program “One billion VND for poor defense workers”. The program encourages each military worker to save money and contribute 2,000 VND/month to build a fund of 1 billion VND/year, helping to build and repair houses for those in difficult circumstances in the army.
At the end of 2006, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor launched the program “Trade Union Shelter” to support funds for union members and workers in difficult housing circumstances to build or repair houses. The Military Union concretized and transformed it into the program “Trade Union Shelter - Comradeship”. The program clearly demonstrates the characteristics of soldiers. That is comradeship and affection.
