Industrial Workers of the World - International Solidarity Committee
Resolution to support Vietnamese trade unionist and farm workers
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:10:38
In the last month Vietnamese authorities have tried to clamp down on independent trade unions in Vietnam. Pham Dang Lou, Tan Bin, Said Gon, Tran Quoc Hien of the United Workers and Farmers Association have all been arrested and detained. Many other farm workers have been arrested and detained for trying to form independent unions outside of the control of the government. The newly formed Vietnamese Independent union has also been targeted by the authorities. There have also been land seizures by local corrupt officials.
The International Solidarity Commission of the Industrial Workers of the World condemns the persecution of the independent trade unions in Vietnam. We condemn the efforts of corrupt local officials to confiscate the land of farmers for their own corrupt purposes. We also send our full support behind the United Workers and Farmers Association and the Vietnamese Independent Union. With the wave of privatisation of the public sector, and the transition to a so-called capitalist "free" market economy it is time that the workers in Vietnam be allowed to form their own free unions.
