Vietnamese strike despite law

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 2

Vietnamese strike despite law

5 2 Prey, Association; WELLINGTON. April 22. Trade union leaders who call strikes and employer's who lock out workers both face gaol in South Vietnam under the Government’s emergency laws.

But this did not stop Nha Trang electrical workers, and dockers in Da Nang, from walking off their jobs last week.

Mr Tran Quoc Buu. president of the Vietnamese Confederation of Labour, representing 400 unions and 450,000 unionists, said in

Wellington that the ban on strikes and lock-outs was the only industrial restriction in South Vietnam. "We have completely free bargaining with employers on wages and conditions, and there are no ceilings,” I he said. BIG STRENGTH 1 Trade unionism, said Mr I Buu, was completely voluntary. and no award or agreeiment carried a qualified preference clause. In spite of this, the confederation was the strongest industrial organisation in South-East Asia, and wielded a strong industrial and economic influence in South Vietnam. “Before 1965 and the introduction of the emergency 'laws, there were no restric-

tions on trade unions,” he I said. “But the laws have not' restricted union activities to I any extent. “Sometimes trade unionists have been goaled for striking. In 1960 four were arrested, but this failed to| end the strike and after ai few davs they were released. Now we ignore the strike [ restriction.” he said. SOME CONFLICT 1 Mr Buu said there was I conflict between the Govern-1 ment and the trade union l movement in South Vietnam, i “We share the concern of' the Government at the| threat of communism, but! we cannot accept interference with the rights of! trade unionists. Last week! there were strikes at Nha I

I Trang and Da Nang directly (related to Government regulations.” Tripartite organisations (Government, employer and trade union) were estab-! lished at various levels to co-i * ordinate industrial planning,) land the national labour! council was a form of con-; [trolling body. > Trade unions, however, [refused to be dominated at ■ any level and considered! [that in a democratic society! j their independence was sac-! irosanct. ■ Mr Buu said his was a I "friendship” visit to New) [Zealand made in return for J those of New Zealand trade [union leaders to South Vietilnam.