The 1st Vietnam Trade Union Congress
The 1st Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union opened on the morning of January 1, 1950 and worked until January 15, 1980, in Cao Van commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province. The Congress was attended by over 200 delegates representing about 350,000 workers, civil servants and laborers.
Many emulation fighters of sectors, revolutionary mass organizations, and foreign delegates also attended the Congress. Leaders of the Party, State, army, and representatives of the Unity Front attended the Congress.
The first National Trade Union Congress was held to review and summarize the revolutionary struggle experience of the working class and the Vietnam Trade Union organization since its formation, especially from the time of the victorious August Revolution to the time of the Congress.
The Congress received a congratulatory letter from the World Trade Union Federation, especially a letter from President Ho Chi Minh. In the letter, Uncle Ho wrote:
...On the occasion of the Congress, I would like to send my warmest wishes to the delegates to be healthy and the Congress to have practical and good results. In the national resistance war, our working class has made an important contribution and has had glorious achievements, from now on, our working class must be the leader. Therefore, every male and female worker must strive to study and progress, must strive to be a model in everything to fulfill the glorious task of their class...
The Congress listened to an important speech from Comrade Truong Chinh, General Secretary of the Party, on the tasks of the Trade Union and the working class. The Congress enthusiastically discussed the report of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor "Vietnamese Workers Fighting for Independence, Democracy and Peace", presented by Comrade Tran Danh Tuyen.
The Congress set a goal: "Encourage workers and civil servants nationwide, especially the Military sector, to produce many weapons and equipment to serve the resistance war against French colonialism successfully".
The Congress set out the new tasks of the working class and trade unions in the resistance war, the Resolution of the Congress clearly stated: "Actively prepare with the entire people to turn to a general counter-attack, destroy the French colonialists and counter-attack with the wrong hands, defeat the intervention plots of the American empire, truly gain independence and unity for the Fatherland, contribute with the workers and people of other countries to fight for world peace".
The Congress set out the international task: Sharing up with workers and democratic forces in the world to fight against international reactions, especially the US reactions, to protect peace and democracy for humanity. Linking and supporting the Soviet Union and the new democratic countries. Actively participate in contributing to the unification of world labor. Closely unite with oppressed workers and ethnic groups, overthrow the invading colonial regime, and gain true freedom and independence for countries. Assist and coordinate with workers and laborers in Mien and Laos to repel the French colonialists. Closely unite with the French working class in the fight against French centralism.
The Congress elected comrade Ton Duc Thang - Founder and leader of the Ba Son Trade Union (1921) as the honorary President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. The Congress elected the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, consisting of 21 official members and 4 alternate members. The Standing Committee of the General Confederation of Labor includes: Tran Danh Tuyen, Nguyen Huu Mai, Hoang Huu Don, Nguyen Duy Tinh, Tran Quoc Thao. Comrade Hoang Quoc Viet (aka Ha Ba Cang), member of the Standing Committee of the Party Central Committee (2/1951 as member of the Politburo) was elected President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Comrade Tran Danh Tuyen was elected General Secretary, Comrades Nguyen Huu Mai and Tran Quoc Thao were elected Deputy General Secretaries.
After half a month of work, on January 15, 19, 50,000, the first Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor ended successfully, marking a great step forward for the working class and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. The Resolution was first approved by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, which is a correct, specific and creative application of the revolutionary guidelines of the Indochinese Communist Party to the struggle movement of the working class and trade union activities, a very favorable condition for the working class and the Vietnam Trade Union to complete important tasks in the new development step of the resistance war against French colonialism.
