On November 22, the Gio Linh District Labor Federation held a ceremony to announce the decision to establish the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Union. At the ceremony, 60 union members were admitted to the union and the decision to establish the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Union was handed over. This is the first fisheries union in Quang Tri Province to be established, aiming to bring together fishermen and workers working in the marine fishing industry, contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Fishermen of Cua Viet town prepare to go to sea - Photo: D.T

Solutions to gather workers to join the Vietnam Trade Union

Analyzing the need to establish grassroots trade unions in general, and the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Trade Union in particular, Permanent Vice President of the Quang Tri Provincial Federation of Labor Nguyen Thi Hoai Le said that Article 10 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam defines the Vietnam Trade Union as a political and social organization of the working class and laborers established on a voluntary basis, representing laborers, caring for and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of laborers; participating in state management, socio-economic management; propagating and mobilizing laborers to study, improve their qualifications and professional skills, comply with the law, build and protect the Fatherland; concretized through the 2012 Trade Union Law and the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union.

According to the Charter of Vietnam Trade Union, in addition to grassroots trade unions in agencies and business units, grassroots trade unions gather legal freelance workers in the same industry, profession, by locality or by employer, and are established when there are 5 union members or 5 or more workers who voluntarily apply to join Vietnam Trade Union.

After more than 9 years of formation and development, since the pilot establishment of the first 2 grassroots fishing unions in Quang Ngai province, up to now, the whole country has established 90 grassroots fishing unions in 16/28 coastal provinces and cities with nearly 18,000 union members and 5,239 fishing vessels with engine capacity of over 90CV or length of 15m or more.

The Vietnam Fisheries Trade Union has gradually affirmed its role as an organization representing the legitimate and legal rights and interests of union members and fishing workers at sea, contributing to the development and construction of Vietnam's fisheries industry to become gradually modern and sustainable, contributing to the cause of national construction and protection of the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

In Quang Tri province, through a survey, the Provincial Federation of Labor found that in recent years, there have been quite a large number of workers working on fishing vessels, about 200 people. However, workers in this field have not yet had an organization to protect their rights. On the other hand, this is a model of operation that is often fluctuating and scattered.

From the above practice, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Federation of Labor has focused on directing and considering the establishment of grassroots unions to gather workers working legally in the fishing industry as a solution to gather and attract workers to join the Vietnam Trade Union.

“We have coordinated with relevant levels and sectors to propagate and mobilize fishing workers in Cua Viet town to join the fishing union. Workers understand that when joining the union, their legitimate rights and interests will be cared for and protected by the union. The union will reflect and recommend the opinions and aspirations of workers to competent authorities for resolution.

The union is a spiritual support, a place where union members share, support, encourage and help each other in work and life. The union is also a place to propagate and mobilize union members to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and to encourage union members to compete in labor and production, contributing to the development of the homeland.

Therefore, in the past time, 60 fishing workers in Cua Viet town have applied to join the Vietnam Trade Union and established the Cua Viet town fishing union as a place for union members to participate in activities," Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Le shared.

Implement activities that bring practical benefits to union members

As members of the Vietnam Trade Union, union members have rights and obligations according to regulations. Regarding the duties and powers of the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Union, first of all, it is to represent union members in relations with local authorities and functional agencies, to care for and protect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of union members; to collect opinions and aspirations of union members to find solutions to support, help or to reflect, recommend, and request competent authorities to resolve.

Propaganda and mobilization of union members and workers to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and the tasks of the trade union organization; guide the implementation of regimes, policies and laws related to the life and working conditions of workers.

In addition, the organization launches patriotic emulation movements; mobilizes union members and workers to participate in cultural and social activities, helping each other in their careers and lives. Actively share fishing grounds, promote linkages in the consumption of products and fishing logistics services.

Participate in rescue, provide timely information to authorities about rescue cases at sea, damaged ships, workers in accidents, illness, and disease to have support plans. Fight against social evils. Develop and manage union members; build strong grassroots unions; participate in building a clean and strong Party and government. Manage and use union finances and assets according to the provisions of law.

“After establishing the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Union, we request that the Gio Linh District Labor Federation continue to coordinate with local Party committees, authorities, organizations and border guards to continue to propagate and mobilize fishing workers to join the Vietnam Trade Union.

At the same time, the District Labor Federation is requested to pay attention to supporting and guiding the Executive Committee of the Fisheries Trade Union of Cua Viet town to develop operating regulations, assign tasks to members, and organize activities that bring practical benefits to union members. In particular, coordinate in organizing propaganda of the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State, especially the issue of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“Coordinate in representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members; support and help fishermen go offshore to produce and contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Le emphasized.

It can be seen that the establishment of the Cua Viet Town Fisheries Union is a positive step in the process of mobilizing workers in the informal sector to join the Vietnam Trade Union. The establishment of grassroots unions to protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of workers and operate effectively will contribute to promoting the development of union members, and having more grassroots unions and grassroots unions in the province in the coming time.

Dan Tam