Vietnam Leaders Visit

Officials from Vietnam's labor federation capped a visit to the United States with meetings at ILR this month.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour is the nation's central union federation, the Vietnamese counterpart to the AFL-CIO.

Federation Vice President Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, International Department Director Mrs. Hoang Thi Thanh, and Deputy Director Mr. Chau Nhat Binh met with ILR Dean Harry Katz and Associate Dean Richard Hurd, who described the school's structure and functions.

The Vietnamese leaders said they were interested in learning more about ILR's trade union leadership programs and the school's curriculum, according to ILR faculty member Lance Compa.

In addition to training union leaders, the confederation operates a trade union university with broad academic offerings in the labor field, Compa said.

A meeting between the Vietnam delegation and faculty members from the International & Comparative Labor Department was hosted by Professor Lisa Nishii, chair of ILR International Programs.

Possible collaborations such as student and professor exchanges were discussed, along with curriculum development assistance to enhance labor law and industrial relations education in Vietnam, Compa said.

The union officials also visited ILR's Catherwood Library and the Kheel Archives, where they met with Research Librarian Aliqae Geraci and Kheel Center Director Cheryl Beredo.

The Vietnamese delegation requested a visit to ILR after a week of meetings in Washington, D.C. with U.S. union and government officials, Compa said.

The officials were accompanied by Alex Feltham MILR '08, now an Asia program officer with the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center in Washington, D.C.