Trade union communication in the current context: Innovation to be more practical

Over the years, the Trade Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has always been one of the strong trade unions, pioneering in the trade union activities of the Hanoi National University. The School's Trade Union has many meaningful and diverse activities; both active in caring for the lives of civil servants and strong in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers. Our School's Trade Union is also an exemplary factor in the movements of higher-level trade unions and industry trade unions, and actively participating in social and volunteer activities. However, when searching for information about the trade union activities of the Hanoi School of Social Sciences and Humanities on the mass media, we found that the information was not much, not commensurate with what we have done.

In fact, it can be said that in the past time, we have done a good job of trade union propaganda, but trade union communication has not been focused on. Trade union information is internal, focusing on the policies, laws, and regulations of the Party, the State, the industry, Hanoi National University and the School. Meanwhile, information about thoughts, feelings, aspirations, life, comradeship and colleagues and the extremely rich social activities of the School, or of each Faculty, Department, and Center, seems to have not received due attention.

We already have many mechanisms and forums to communicate information about policies and guidelines. Regarding trade union communication, we should orient and prioritize information about simple but practical, close and effective issues to arouse the spirit of solidarity and the atmosphere of attachment to the School, the agency and the unit of the staff. That is a success.

With the above premise, we would like to boldly share the following 5 recommendations:

Firstly, trade union communication needs to be more fully recognized, and receive more sharing and attention from the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, leaders of relevant departments, and leaders of Faculties, Departments, and Centers in the School.

Second, the information about the activities of the union needs to be regular and continuous, addressing close, practical issues that arise every hour and every day in the lives of staff and civil servants, such as: ensuring teaching hours, research hours, income outside of salary, social activities (or social activities related to expertise), field activities, surveys, and reality of lecturers and staff, even information about field trips, sports, cultural and artistic activities... of staff and civil servants in the School. Avoid information focusing only on a few general conferences and congresses.

Third, the form of information also needs to be innovated, richer and more diverse. It should not be a few isolated news stories, nor a propaganda essay, but it can be an interview with a union figure, photos, videos, banners, posters… even statuses on social networks.

Fourth, we should pay attention to utilizing various types of media to publicize information about union activities. Activities that are large-scale, have broad social significance and are topical can invite newspapers and electronic newspapers. But besides that, other simpler activities that take place every day and every hour of departments, faculties, departments, and centers can be posted on the school's website, student forums, and social networks. In addition, we also need to learn to use some simple tools that can carry communication messages such as standies, flyers, notebooks, pens, etc.

Fifth, there needs to be communication, sharing of information, news, photos, and clips from the activities of the departmental unions. Thus, we will have a rich, diverse, and multifaceted source of information to carry out union communication work regularly and continuously. Most importantly, from the perspective of internal communication, the School's staff can know more, understand more, and share more with the School's union activities in particular and other activities of the School in general.

Some shared that there is no other expectation than the wish that the trade union activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will become stronger and more developed, saying goes hand in hand with doing, being more practical and effective./.