10,000 workers strike, take to streets in collective action for higher wages in Dongguan, Guangdong
Dec 1 2007 20:43
Pictures and some commentary in Chinese here. Seems the protest is over hikes in deductions for dormitory accommodation and canteen meals at the "Aigao electronics factory" while wages have of course remained static. Dongguan is a big industrial satellite town of Guangzhou (Canton in old money) and has migrant workers from all over the country. Inflation has been running high for several months now here. There's also a new Labour Law due to come into effect January 1 which goes some way to upping protections.
Here's the Chinese text from the link, in case it gets pulled at some point:
一位爱高的员工这样说道：
即将颁布新的劳动法是一个原因
工资不高也是一个原因〈690元底薪减240元伙食费再减50元住宿费这样大伙会算我们一个月的工资是怎样了吧！〉，最大的原因是工资不加伙食费却加了而且伙食又差得没法说！所以厂里面的人就不服！26号前我们厂里面的全体员工都签名向公司诉求！要求公司26号给我们员工们一个答复！但公司却置之不理才有了今天的罢工事件的！打工苦打工累啊兄弟们！！！
Rough and ready translation:
"From an Aigao worker:
One reason [for the action] is the imminent promulgation of the new Labour Law.
Another reason is low wages (CNY690 [about GBP46] monthly basic of which CNY240 is deducted for meals and 50 for accommodation, so everyone can work out for themselves what sort of pay we end up with!). The biggest cause has been a hike in the meals deduction while wages have stayed static and the food's terrible. The whole workforce at the factory signed a joint appeal to management on the 26 [November]. We demanded an answer on the same day. It's because the company ignored this appeal, we have now gone on strike. It's hard and weary work as a migrant, brothers!!!"
The follow-up comments at the forum are uniformly supporting. More sign that the class is on the move again.
Dec 2 2007 17:26
#2
China Labour Bulletin
China Labor Watch
Both are useful if a bit on the reformist side. There used to be a Hong Kong based left communist group that issued bulletins but I don't remember their name.
Dec 2 2007 17:36
#3
Dec 2 2007 18:27
#4
David in Atlanta wrote:
China Labour Bulletin
China Labor Watch
Both are useful if a bit on the reformist side.
thanks for those links
Dec 2 2007 23:28
#5
Han Dongfang who runs the China Labour Bulletin has all my respect, though I I too differ from him in some political views. He set up an autonomous worker's union during the Tiananmen uprising; some argue it was stuff like that that really put the wind up the Party where purely student protests hadn't. He's one of the people feature in a very good book called "Black Hands of Beijing" by Robin Munro (iirc).
He also does a phone-in on Radio Free Asia which has some reach. I've not met him but met a few of his colleagues, including one Trot lad who'd had a bit of a falling out with him but still kept in touch. I did read Han's become a born-again Christian, which happened to quite a few of the radicals in exile.
Dec 3 2007 19:27
#6
David
Thanks for the links.
JimW
A big thanks for posting this report, it is indeed another sign that the class is on the move again.
Do you know of any English language sites/forums etc which deal with the class struggle in China?
The struggles of the proletariat in China are going to be of importance in the unfolding international struggles. First and foremost they demonstrate that the so-called docile Chinese worker willing to work for a bowl of rice a day is a myth