Deeply Understanding the Century-Long Course, Achievements, and Basic Experience of the Trade Unions under the Leadership of the CPC

On May 1, 1925, the Communist Party of China convened the Second National Labor Congress in Guangzhou, proclaiming the formal establishment of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Over the past century, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the various trade union organizations under its leadership have always been closely united around the Party, mobilizing the broad masses of workers and staff to rally around the Party’s program and the central tasks set in different historical periods, making indelible historic contributions. Standing at a new historical starting point, reviewing the century-long course of China’s trade unions and summarizing the achievements they have made and the experience they have accumulated is of great and far-reaching significance for inheriting and carrying forward the glorious traditions of the Chinese working class and China’s trade unions, and for opening up new prospects for the development of the Chinese trade union movement in the New Era.

1925年5月1日，中国共产党在广州召开第二次全国劳动大会，宣告中华全国总工会正式成立。一百年来，中华全国总工会及其领导的各工会组织始终紧紧团结在党的周围，动员广大职工群众围绕党的纲领和不同历史时期确立的中心任务，作出了不可磨灭的历史性贡献。站在新的历史起点，回顾中国工会的百年历程，总结其取得的成就和积累的经验，对于继承和发扬中国工人阶级和中国工会的光荣传统，开创新时代中国工运事业发展新局面，具有重要而深远的意义。

The Century-Long Course of the Trade Unions under the Leadership of the CPC

党领导的中国工会百年历程

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that China’s trade union movement has developed under the leadership of the Party. In July 1921, the *First Resolution of the Communist Party of China* adopted at the Party’s First National Congress clearly stated that the Party’s current “basic task is to establish industrial unions” and to carry out the workers’ movement. In August 1921, the China Secretariat of the Labor Organizations was established to openly lead the workers’ movement. On May 1, 1925, the Party initiated the convening of the Second National Labor Congress, which proclaimed the formal establishment of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, marking the political and organizational unity and unification of the country’s trade unions under the leadership of the Party, and opening a new chapter in the Chinese workers’ movement.

习近平总书记强调，我国工运事业是在党的领导下发展起来的。1921年7月，党的第一次全国代表大会通过的《中国共产党第一个决议》明确提出，党在当前的“基本任务是成立产业工会”，开展工人运动。1921年8月成立了公开领导工人运动的中国劳动组合书记部。1925年5月1日，党发起召开第二次全国劳动大会，宣告中华全国总工会正式成立，标志着全国工人阶级在党的领导下，实现了全国工会在政治上和组织上的团结与统一，揭开了中国工人运动新篇章。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, under the leadership of the Party, China’s trade unions mobilized and organized the masses of workers and staff to set off a high tide in the workers’ movement, dealing heavy blows to the imperialist forces, the reactionary warlords, and the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang; they resolutely supported and upheld the Anti-Japanese National United Front led by the Communist Party of China, mobilizing the masses of workers and staff to join the War of Resistance Against Japan, participating in the construction of revolutionary base area political power and economic construction, and mobilizing the masses of workers and staff to take part in the Great Production Movement [1]1 The Great Production Movement was a large-scale campaign for economic self-sufficiency launched by the CPC in its revolutionary base areas during the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937–1945), most famously in Yan’an. and the New Labor Movement [2]2 The New Labor Movement (新劳动者运动) refers to a campaign during the Yan’an period that encouraged workers to increase production, improve efficiency, and adopt a new attitude toward labor as a contribution to the revolutionary cause.; they organized the masses of workers and staff in the Kuomintang-controlled areas to carry out struggles for the right to survival, protecting the interests of the workers, and establishing historic merits for winning the victory of the New Democratic Revolution and achieving national independence and the liberation of the people.

在新民主主义革命时期，中国工会在党的领导下动员和组织工人群众掀起工运高潮，沉重打击了帝国主义势力、反动军阀和国民党反动统治；坚决拥护和支持中国共产党领导的抗日民族统一战线，发动工人群众投身抗日战争，参与革命根据地政权建设和经济建设，动员工人群众参加大生产运动和新劳动者运动；组织工人群众在国统区开展争取生存权利的斗争，保护工人利益，为夺取新民主主义革命胜利、实现民族独立和人民解放建立了历史功勋。

During the period of the Socialist Revolution and Construction, under the leadership of the Party, China’s trade unions united and mobilized the broad masses of workers and staff to heal the wounds of war, restore and develop the national economy, support the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea [3]3 The War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950–1953) is the official Chinese name for the Korean War, in which Chinese People’s Volunteers fought alongside North Korean forces against UN forces led by the United States., and consolidate the newly born people’s political power led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants; they supported the socialist transformation of capitalist industry and commerce, and participated in the construction of the basic socialist political and economic system; they united, educated, and organized the broad masses of workers and staff to take the attitude of masters of the country and throw themselves into the comprehensive construction of socialism, making outstanding contributions to the cause of socialist revolution and construction.

在社会主义革命和建设时期，中国工会在党的领导下团结动员广大职工群众医治战争创伤，恢复和发展国民经济，支援抗美援朝，巩固新生的工人阶级领导的、以工农联盟为基础的人民政权；支持对资本主义工商业的社会主义改造，参加社会主义基本政治经济制度建设；团结、教育和组织广大职工以国家主人翁的姿态投身社会主义全面建设，为社会主义革命和建设事业作出了突出贡献。

Entering the new period of reform and opening up, under the leadership of the Party, China’s trade unions united and led the broad masses of workers and staff to actively throw themselves into the main battlefield of modernization, making tremendous contributions to the country’s economic and social development. At the same time, they guided workers and staff to correctly handle the adjustment of interest relations in the course of reform, actively support, participate in, and promote reform, and guide the broad masses of workers and staff to carry forward the fine tradition of the working class of understanding the general situation and taking the overall interest into consideration, daring to take responsibility and being willing to contribute, thus becoming the mainstay of reform, development, and stability.

进入改革开放新时期，在党的领导下，中国工会团结带领广大职工，积极投身现代化建设主战场，为国家经济社会发展作出巨大贡献。同时，引导职工正确对待改革中的利益关系调整，积极支持、参加和推动改革，引导广大职工发扬工人阶级识大体、顾大局的优良传统，勇于担当、甘于奉献，成为改革、发展、稳定的中流砥柱。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, propelled the Party and state’s undertakings to achieve historic accomplishments and undergo historic changes, and opened up a New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions and trade unions at all levels have conscientiously implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the working class and trade union work, adhered to the path of trade union development with Chinese characteristics, organized and mobilized the broad masses of workers and staff to make contributions, done a good job in safeguarding rights and serving workers, promoted the self-reform of the trade union system, deepened the reform of the industrial worker workforce construction, and comprehensively strengthened Party building in the trade union system, achieving new and notable results.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，开创了中国特色社会主义新时代。中华全国总工会及各级工会认真贯彻习近平总书记关于工人阶级和工会工作的重要论述，坚持走中国特色社会主义工会发展道路，组织动员广大职工建功立业，做好维权服务工作，推进工会系统自身改革，深化产业工人队伍建设改革，全面加强工会系统党的建设，取得了新的显著成效。

The Century-Long Achievements of the Trade Unions under the Leadership of the CPC

党领导的中国工会百年成就

General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that under the leadership of the Party, mass organizations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, and the Women’s Federation have actively played their roles, organizing and mobilizing the broad masses of the people to unswervingly follow the Party, making significant contributions to the development of the Party and the people’s cause. Over the past century, under the Party’s banner, China’s trade unions have always united and guided the broad masses of the working class to closely rally around the Party’s program and the central tasks of each period, forging ahead with determination and achieving brilliant accomplishments.

习近平总书记深刻指出，在党的领导下，工会、共青团、妇联等群团组织积极发挥作用，组织动员广大人民群众坚定不移跟党走，为党和人民事业发展作出了重大贡献。百年来，在党的旗帜下，中国工会始终团结引导广大工人阶级紧紧围绕党的纲领和每一个时期的中心任务砥砺奋进，取得了辉煌的成就。

They made an indelible contribution to the establishment of New China. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, China’s trade unions consciously upheld and implemented the Party’s policy on the workers’ movement, assisted the Party in raising the political consciousness of the working class, mobilized the broad masses of workers to actively participate in the revolutionary struggle against imperialism and feudalism, advanced the great cause of striving for national independence and the liberation of the people, and together with the people of the whole country, won the revolutionary victory and established New China.

为新中国的建立作出了不可磨灭的贡献。在新民主主义革命时期，中国工会自觉拥护和贯彻党的工运方针，协助党提升工人阶级的政治意识，动员广大工人踊跃参与反帝反封建的革命斗争，推动争取民族独立和人民解放的伟大事业，同全国人民一道取得了革命胜利、建立了新中国。

They shouldered the heavy responsibility of consolidating the Party’s governing foundation and state power. After the founding of New China, China’s trade unions, as mass organizations of the working class under the leadership of the Party, fully played their role as a bridge and bond, always regarding guiding workers and staff to listen to the Party and follow the Party as their political responsibility, educating and guiding workers and staff to correctly handle the relationship between individual interests and collective interests, local interests and overall interests, immediate interests and long-term interests, consciously maintaining the country’s stable and united political situation, and making important contributions to consolidating the Party’s governing foundation and the stability of state power.

为巩固党的执政基础和国家政权担当了重任。新中国成立后，中国工会作为党领导下的工人阶级群众组织，充分发挥桥梁纽带作用，始终把引导职工听党话、跟党走作为自己的政治责任，教育引导职工正确处理个人利益与集体利益、局部利益与整体利益、眼前利益与长远利益的关系，自觉维护我国安定团结的政治局面，为巩固党的执政基础和国家政权稳定作出了重要贡献。

They united and mobilized the working class to devote themselves to China’s economic development and modernization, playing the role of the main force. China’s trade unions have always united and mobilized the broad masses of workers and staff to actively throw themselves into the main battlefield of economic construction, consciously act as the vanguard of reform and opening up, become the backbone force driving economic development, and fully demonstrate their outstanding contributions and indispensable position as the main force of modernization.

团结动员工人阶级投身我国经济发展和现代化建设，发挥主力军作用。中国工会始终团结动员广大职工，积极投身经济建设主战场，自觉担当改革开路先锋，成为推动经济发展的中坚力量，充分展现了作为现代化建设主力军的卓越贡献和不可或缺的地位。

They provided strong support for promoting the harmony of labor relations and social stability in China. The harmony and stability of labor relations are the foundation of social harmony and stability. During the period of socialist construction, especially in the era of reform and opening up and in the New Era, China’s trade unions have unswervingly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of workers and staff, actively participated in the tripartite consultation mechanism for labor relations, and promoted the construction of the labor contract system, the collective contract system, and the system of workers’ and staff congresses, making positive contributions to promoting the harmony and stability of labor relations.

为促进我国劳动关系和谐与社会稳定提供了强大支撑。劳动关系和谐稳定是社会和谐稳定的基础。在社会主义建设时期，特别是改革开放时期和新时代以来，中国工会坚定不移地维护职工合法权益，积极参与劳动关系三方协商机制，推动劳动合同、集体合同和职工代表大会制度的建设，为促进劳动关系的和谐稳定作出了积极贡献。

They vigorously promoted the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labor, and the spirit of craftsmanship, contributing to the forging of the Chinese spirit. While creating material wealth, the working class has also shaped advanced spiritual qualities. In the long-term practice of socialist labor, the working class has always maintained its advanced nature, consciously practiced the core socialist values, and forged the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labor, and the spirit of craftsmanship. China’s trade unions have vigorously promoted these “three spirits,” influencing and driving the whole society to form a good atmosphere in which labor is the most glorious, the most noble, the greatest, and the most beautiful, continuously injecting new energy into the Chinese spirit.

大力弘扬劳模精神、劳动精神和工匠精神，为铸就中国精神贡献力量。工人阶级在创造物质财富的同时，也塑造了先进的精神品格。在长期的社会主义劳动实践中，工人阶级始终保持先进性，自觉践行社会主义核心价值观，铸就了劳模精神、劳动精神、工匠精神。中国工会大力弘扬“三种精神”，影响和带动全社会形成劳动最光荣、劳动最崇高、劳动最伟大、劳动最美丽的良好氛围，为中国精神不断注入新能量。

The Century-Long Experience of the Trade Unions under the Leadership of the CPC

党领导的中国工会百年经验

The century-long history of China’s trade unions has accumulated valuable experience. This experience is of great significance for deeply carrying out trade union work on the new journey of the New Era, for promoting a regular understanding of the development of the trade union movement, and for continuously opening up new realms in the path of trade union development with Chinese characteristics.

中国工会百年历史积累了宝贵经验，这些经验对于新时代新征程深入做好工会工作、推动工运事业发展的规律性认识、不断开辟中国特色社会主义工会发展道路新境界，具有重要意义。

Always adhering to the leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in trade union work. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Only by adhering to the leadership of the Party can trade union work have a clear direction and not go astray, and can it be carried out with vigor and substance, solidly and effectively.” All the achievements of the Chinese trade union movement over the past century have been attained under the leadership of the Party. The century-long practice of China’s trade unions has proven that only under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, by implementing the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies in all aspects and throughout the entire process of trade union work, can the trade union movement firmly grasp the correct political direction and develop vigorously and vibrantly.

始终坚持党的领导是做好工会工作的根本保证。习近平总书记指出：“只有坚持党的领导，工会工作才能方向明确、不走偏路，才能做得有声有色、扎实有效。”百年来中国工运的一切成就，无不是在党的领导下取得的。中国工会的百年实践证明，只有在中国共产党领导下，把党的理论和路线方针政策贯彻落实到工会工作各方面、全过程，工运事业才能牢牢把握正确的政治方向，才能生机勃勃向前发展。

Serving the Party’s central task at all times is an important mission of trade union work. The Party’s goals, central tasks, and the lines, programs, major policies, strategic deployments, and major decisions formulated to achieve these goals and tasks in a given historical period constitute the overall situation that determines the destiny of the nation and the future of the country. In different historical periods, the working class and trade union organizations have always carried out their work around the Party’s central tasks in each period. A century of practice has proven that only by closely linking its own work with the great cause led by the Party, identifying the points of integration and focus of its work, and uniting and mobilizing the masses of workers and staff to contribute to the completion of the Party’s central tasks can the trade union represent the masses of workers and staff, fully play its role, and become a positive force driving history forward. In the New Era, the theme of the times for China’s workers’ movement is to strive for the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and trade union work must be planned and advanced under this overarching goal.

始终服务于党的中心任务是工会工作的重要使命。党确定的一个特定历史时期的奋斗目标、中心任务以及为实现这一目标任务制定的路线纲领、大政方针、战略部署和重大决策，是决定民族命运、国家前途的大局。在不同历史时期，工人阶级和工会组织总是围绕着党在每个时期的中心任务而开展工作。百年实践证明，工会只有把自身的工作与党领导的伟大事业紧密联系在一起，找准工作的结合点和着力点，团结动员职工群众为完成党的中心任务贡献力量，才能代表职工群众，充分发挥作用，成为推动历史前进的积极力量。在新时代，我国工人运动的时代主题，是为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而奋斗，工会工作必须放到这个大目标下来谋划和推进。

Always serving as a bridge, a bond, and an important social pillar is where the value of trade union work lies. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that China’s trade unions are mass organizations of the working class under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, serving as the Party’s bridge and bond to the masses of workers and staff, and as an important social pillar of the socialist state power. This profoundly elucidates the functional positioning and political responsibility of trade unions formed in the historical development of China’s workers’ movement. Only by playing the role of a bridge and bond can the trade union most broadly unite and rally the masses of workers and staff around the Party, consolidate the Party’s class foundation and mass base for governance, and truly become an important social pillar of the socialist state power.

始终发挥桥梁纽带和重要社会支柱作用是工会工作的价值所在。习近平总书记指出，我国工会是中国共产党领导的工人阶级群众组织，是党联系职工群众的桥梁和纽带，是社会主义国家政权的重要社会支柱。这就深刻阐明了我国工运发展历史所形成的工会功能定位和政治责任。工会只有发挥好桥梁纽带作用，才能最广泛地把职工群众团结凝聚在党的周围，巩固党执政的阶级基础和群众基础，才能真正成为社会主义国家政权的重要社会支柱。

Always safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of workers and staff and sincerely serving them is the basic duty of trade union organizations. The trade union is the workers’ and staff’s own organization directly led by the Party; safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests and sincerely serving them is the natural attribute and lifeline of the trade union. The greatest advantage of the trade union is its close connection with the masses of workers and staff, and its greatest danger is becoming detached from them. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that the banner of serving the masses and safeguarding their rights and interests must be firmly held in our hands. In the New Era, the trade union must earnestly fulfill its basic duties of rights protection and service, better representing and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of workers and staff while safeguarding the overall interests of the people nationwide. It must take sincere service to the masses of workers and staff as the starting point and ultimate goal of all its work. Only by leveraging the trade union’s advantages, embodying its characteristics, and achieving more in rights protection and service can it gain prestige, influence, and strength.

始终维护职工合法权益、竭诚服务职工群众是工会组织的基本职责。工会是党直接领导的职工群众自己的组织，维护职工合法权益、竭诚为职工群众服务是工会的天然属性和生命线。工会最大的优势是密切联系职工群众，最大的危险是脱离职工群众。习近平总书记指出，服务群众、维护群众权益的大旗要牢牢掌握在我们手中。在新时代，工会要切实履行好维权服务基本职责，在维护全国人民总体利益的同时更好地代表和维护职工的合法权益。把竭诚为职工群众服务作为工会一切工作的出发点和落脚点。只有发挥工会优势、体现工会特点，在维权服务上更加有为，才能有威信、有影响、有力量。

Always promoting reform and innovation is the inexhaustible driving force for maintaining the vitality of the workers’ movement. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that as the times develop and the cause innovates, trade union work must also develop and innovate. Trade union work is closely related to social change, adjustments and changes in labor-economic relations, and the practical demands of the masses of workers and staff. Only by standing at the forefront of the times, actively adapting to changes in the domestic and international situation, adhering to proceeding from China’s actual conditions, consciously using the spirit of reform to plan trade union work, and innovating organizational systems, operational mechanisms, activity methods, and working approaches can the workers’ movement always advance in step with the cause of the Party and the state.

始终推动改革创新是工运事业保持生机的不竭动力。习近平总书记指出，时代在发展，事业在创新，工会工作也要发展、也要创新。工会工作与社会变革、劳动经济关系的调整变化、职工群众的现实诉求息息相关。只有站在时代前沿，主动适应国内外形势发展变化，坚持从我国实际出发，自觉运用改革精神谋划工会工作，创新组织体制、运行机制、活动方式和工作方法，工运事业才能始终与党和国家事业同步前进。

(The author is the Party Secretary of the China University of Labor Relations.)

（作者系中国劳动关系学院党委书记）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心