After the Ba-Son strike: experience of the Ba son workers

Below is the English translation of an article written by a group of Ba son workers, published in the 22.07.1938 issue of the newspaper Tranh Đấu. Here is the persistent link for the issue 

The Bason Mutual Aid association is a reactionary force against the mass movement.

In recent struggle the Ba son workers have witnessed clearly the true reactionary and destructive nature of the  Mutual Aid Association. With the Stalinists backing, the Mutual Aid's leadership obeyed the government's order to hinder the struggle of the workers. And yet, after the government conceded, they had the nerve to run their mouths to get a piece of the victory for themselves. We are a group of Ba son's workers who cannot let these saboteurs act condescendingly towards the masses and curse at the comrades strugglingly tenaciously. We will resolutely shut their mouths. When the strike started, where where those Mutual Aid's leaders? Instead of fighting unanimously with the workers on the 9th of June, they were busy licking the boots of the authority. They call that "intervention".  Only when the employer kicked them out, having no further use for them, did they shout "The Mutual Aid association will intervene. But orders had come down to the Ba son facility to shut down workshops..." The workers and both the two trends Stalinists and Trotskyists were all indignant after the announcement to reduce wages. The Trotskyists then rallied the Stalinists to establish a united front for the common struggle and through this model end the force of the "Factory Committee". Those in the Trotskyist group proposed an urgent demand form containing 6 points:

1. Pay back 25% and 50% wage of overtime pay

2. Do not dismiss or penalize those who oppose the new law

3. Increase wage according to living expenses

4. Abolish the practice of imposing harsh penalties

5. Establish a supervisory board (of workers) for the hiring and firing of workers

6. Freedom to unionize

The Stalinists were shaking of fear of the above slogans of the struggle. They only agreed with 2 points. After a heated debate, the Trotskyists got the majority support  for 4 points (points 5 and 6 the Stalinists strongly disapprove). 

Resolution ready and urgent timing, the Stalinists still obstructed the representatives to wait for the "intervention" of the Mutual Aid association. The result: could not negotiate anything. Thanks to the pressure of the public, on the morning of the 8th of June, 3 representatives co-signed a request to meet face-to-face with the employer, until, at 10:05 AM , the employer stated that he does not greet representatives. Even so, at 11:00 AM, 4 guys shoved aggressively into the working office to deliver the request form. The form was dismissed, and in that afternoon it was agreed among all the workers that tomorrow (the 9th of June) they will strike. Only several tens of workers, out of 1500, went to work. On the 10th of June, the employer allowed 300 clerks and assistants to take leave, and subsequently the men under them were also permitted to stop working. Only after a few days of leave the leaders of the Mutual Aid association complained to the employer that they are left "helpless" and in "deep trouble"! 

It is out of this fear of helplessness that they did not approve of the struggle. When the struggle was still intense, on the 12th of June, the Mutual Aid leaders took the Admiral's threats and turned them into a public announcement embellished with a great deal of flattery. Before even meeting the representatives or concluding negotiations, they had the audacity to brazenly issue a public announcement claiming that "The Brothers at Ba son have won a complete victory!" Only in the afternoon of the 13th and morning of the 14th were the 3 representatives negotiating, although only on 2 points of the resolution. The workers' representatives due to the backing of the comrades were able to persistently fight for the concessions, while the Mutual Aid leadership made a "public announcement" - after all, they have the Công-Luận newspaper under their thumbs - claiming the credit for themselves. Thanks to their bootlicking of the authority with phrases like "The Admiral is willing to show leniency," "The Chairman wishes to thank all of the official on behalf of his colleagues," "The Chairman is to have to have an audience with the High Official" -- is that it? No. The struggle was victorious because of the spirit and all the workers of Ba son. 

To the workers of Ba son! You all of witnessed how the leadership of the Mutual Aid association is a great reactionary force to the people's movement. From now on, we must rally to expose these coward leaders to steer the Mutual Aid association onto the path of the class struggle. Knowing that the Mutual Aid association has its own responsibilities while workers still do not have the freedom to organize, we must not forget that in these struggles, to survive we must fervently demand:

1. Freedom to unionize

2. Freedom to democracy

3. Establishment of a factory committee to protect the practical interests of the working class

A group of Ba son workers