News

The celebration on the affiliation of the Vietnam National Union of Post and Telecom Workers (VNUPTW) on 28Aug2008 to UNI Global Union is a historic achievement for the VNUPTW and the Vietnamese Trade Union Movement under the leadership of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour as this was the first union in Vietnam that jointed a Global Union.



Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary of UNI Apro congratulate the members and officers of the VNUPTW under the leadership of Bro Loat for this achievement and thank every one who has in one way or another facilitated the affiliation of VNUPTW to UNI. On behalf of UNI and UNI Apro, he welcomed each and every officers and members of the VNUPTW to UNI and UNI Apro. In his speech Christopher mentioned that in 1995 he made the first visit to Hanoi to meet with the leadership of the VGCL and thereafter a trade union development project to assist the Vietnamese trade unions to evolve and develop its capacity to confront the new challenges faced by Vietnamese workers and their unions in an open and global economy was initially started.



Since then, UNI and UNI Apro have, in close consultation with the VGCL, developed and implemented numerous training, educational and information activities designed to develop and strengthen the capacity and capability of the unions to represent workers’ interests and to work in partnership with employers and government. UNI and UNI Apro are one with the Vietnamese trade union movement in the relentless effort to seek a more equal and balanced national and global economy through social dialogue and social partnership. Christopher stressed that no productivity and competitiveness program will work if the employees do not enjoy decent work conditions, their rights not fully recognized and their contributions not appreciated. True social partnership means going beyond “do-good or be politically correct.” It means treating the other party as a partner and according this partner the full respect and dignity befitting a partner. UNI Apro is also seeking the co-operation of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to collaborate in a project to encourage and propagate the social partnership industrial relations for the ASEAN countries.



VNUPTW President Hoang Huy Loat, mentioned that 1stJuly 2008 marked an important milestone for VNUPTW as this is the official date of affiliation to UNI. He mentioned that VNUPTW through the cooperation activities of UNI Apro’s project in Vietnam that contributed to the strengthening of the union. VNUPTW will enjoy and participate in UNI Apro events but at the same time the affiliation is also a challenge for the union to improve their standards by improving foreign language ability of the officials, proactively promote trade union movement of the same industry in the region and the world. He thanked the support of VGCL, VPTW Group, Ministry of Information and Communication, like minded organizations like FES, APHEDA, ILO and VNUPTW staff and members alike.



The event was attended by Deputy Minister MIC Mr Hong, Vice President of VGCL, Mohd Shafie BP Mammal ASETUC Secretary General & Vice President of UNI Apro, Alice Chang UNI Apro, FES Representatives, Sharan of APHEDA, ILO and Vietnam Trade unions.