How did the slogan "Discipline and Unity" come about?

Speaking of the cultural tradition of miners, it can be affirmed that the most core value, which makes up the characteristics of the Coal industry, is the spirit of discipline and unity. That cultural value is an invaluable spiritual asset, with great power to create the history and stature of miners, contributing to embellishing and enlivening the culture of the Vietnamese working class. However, not everyone understands when the slogan of discipline and unity was born and what the concept means.

Discipline and unity are the cultural pillars of the development of the Coal industry.

Mining workers' culture is a unique culture and the most characteristic identity of Quang Ninh . Unity is a tradition in labor, production, and fighting against natural disasters and wars of the residents of the Northeast region. The culture of "Discipline and unity" was formed in the mid-19th century when the Vietnamese people started to dig the first pickaxe to exploit coal in Yen Lang mountain (Dong Trieu) according to the decree of King Minh Mang. Along with the colonial exploitation process of the French colonialists, the mining workers were formed and developed more and more. In the process of labor and production in the mines, especially the struggle against the harsh oppression of the colonialists and their henchmen, the miners must unite and unite into a unified block to resonate the strength of the struggle. Since the birth of our Party, unity has been an organizational and operational principle of the Party, so that quality has been further cultivated, promoted, and raised to a new level. Furthermore, the working class is a class with a high sense of organization and discipline; industrial production is on an assembly line and is specialized, so workers are required to practice discipline and absolutely comply with labor discipline and organizational discipline. Thus, discipline and unity are cultural qualities of Quang Ninh, born from traditional culture and modern industrial life, and Quang Ninh is one of the cradles of formation and development of the Vietnamese working class.

This tradition was most clearly demonstrated during the revolutionary struggle in 1936. Under the slogan “Discipline and unity, we will definitely win”, the general strike demanding mine owners to increase wages, reduce working hours, oppose beatings and mistreatment of workers, and improve working conditions for more than 30,000 miners starting from Cam Pha was the biggest struggle of the Quang Ninh mine workers’ movement before the August Revolution, and also the biggest struggle of the Vietnamese revolutionary movement in the period 1936-1939.

On November 12, 1936, leaflets calling for a work stoppage in preparation for the struggle covered the mine. On the morning of November 13, 1936, many leaflets and posters calling for the struggle continued to appear at intersections and entrances to the mine floors... The strike had spread everywhere. Fearing this situation, the mine owner and the foremen discussed ways to break the strike. However, the workers united closely, with the slogan: "Discipline and unity, we will definitely win!". On the afternoon of November 14, 1936, the mine owner had to give in, accepting all the workers' demands. The strike was victorious in accordance with the spirit of the slogan.

The good traditions of the Mining workers are always passed down by Ha Lam miners to the next generation, whether at work or after work returning to their families. — The good traditions of the Mining Area workers have always been preserved and passed on to the next generation by Ha Lam miners.

In that slogan, “Discipline” is the general rules of conduct of a community or a social organization, requiring everyone to follow, in order to create unity of action to achieve high quality and efficiency. “Unity” is people with the same aspirations, with the same determination to achieve a goal. The slogan “Discipline and unity, we will definitely win”, right from the November 1936 strike as an order, a platform of miners, has entered traditional history as a unique creation, appearing only once, one of a kind in the history of the struggle of the Vietnamese working class. It is the most concentrated and complete expression of the revolutionary nature, the unique fighting spirit in the method, the way of gathering forces to create the great and powerful strength of the miners.

The spirit of "Discipline and unity" is shown by miners in many aspects of life and production such as: In the revolutionary struggle for independence and fighting to protect the homeland and country; in labor production; in social activities, in cultural and sports movements. The tradition of "Discipline and unity" has accompanied the mining working class and the people of Quang Ninh province throughout history, from the revolutionary struggle for independence to the renovation and construction of the country. That tradition has been realized into the material strength that has created glorious victories for Quang Ninh province.

During the second resistance war against the French colonialists, the tradition of “Discipline and Unity” was once again rekindled and promoted to make positive contributions to the task of protecting factories, mines, enterprises, and fighting to protect the homeland and the country. In peacetime, especially during the period of industrialization, modernization and international integration, coal workers and people of Quang Ninh province overcame all difficulties and hardships to exploit millions of tons of coal, enriching the Fatherland.

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