China Labour E-Bulletin Issue No. 10 (2002-09-05)
1. Editor's Note
2. WORKERS' ACTION
- Gansu Workers Stand Up for Their Rights
3. NEWS REVIEW
- Guangdong Federation of Trade Unions Declared Migrant Workers' Organisation in Zhejiang Illegal
- Behind ACFTU's Million-Branch Campaign in Private and Foreign-funded Enterprises
4. ANALYSIS
- Wage Arrears Fuel Discontent
The government-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) was finally elected to the ILO Governing Body as a Worker Deputy Member on June 10, 2002. The 'victory' is still highlighted on ACFTU's website (http://www.acftu.org.cn/index2.htm), and China Daily recently ran a report on ACFTU's drive to set up 1 million trade union branches in private and foreign-funded enterprises by the end of this year to "protect workers' rights".
The well-phrased intention defies the reality. Workers all over the country have shunned ACFTU as the guardian of their rights – they prefer to take their own action. Now and again, ACFTU officials say in our interviews, "we can't do anything; we are led by the Party". But when workers try to organise themselves outside the ACFTU system, they run the risks of imprisonment on various charges, notably subversion. And the ACFTU condemns without delay any independent workers' organisations.
In this issue, we have compiled news reports and CLB interviews on two workers' attempts to protect their rights and livelihood, and ACFTU's reaction to these organising initiatives. Finally, the feature article on wage arrears in China points to the gravity of the problem underlying the widespread workers' protests.
WORKERS' ACTION
Gansu Workers Stand Up for Their Rights
On August 22, 2002, between 50 and 60 workers from the Yumin Ore Processing Factory in Gansu Provicne staged a collective sit-in at the office of the parent company's general manager. The workers were demanding payment of 12 months' wage arrears, and a definite policy of either re-employment or lay off (or alternative severance arrangement) but no solution has been reached yet. This was their third collective action in two weeks' time.
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/2098
Guangdong Federation of Trade Unions Declared Migrant Workers' Organisation in Zhejiang Illegal
On July 10, 2002, the vocal news agency in Guangdong Province, Nanfang Dushibao, ran a commentary applauding the setting up of an autonomous migrant workers' organisation in the coastal province of Zhejiang. The very next day, it ran a statement from the Guangdong Federation of Trade Unions which declared the organisation illegal, making reference to the Trade Union Law.
Behind ACFTU's Million-Branch Campaign in Private and Foreign-funded Enterprises
An ACFTU official explained to China Daily that "unions are essential to protecting the interests and rights of workers" and ACFTU plans to increase the number of trade union branches in newly established enterprises to one million by the end of this year, with 36 million members. Does it give any room for optimism?
Wage Arrears Fuel Discontent
Labour researcher John Chen documents the problem of wage arrears in China, analyses the causes, and records how workers and local authorities attempt to solve the problem, in their own way. The article also discusses the prospect of a national Wage Law which is "currently making its tortuous way to the statute books".
Labour Activists
Trade union reform: Comparing the achievements claimed by the ACFTU with results on the ground
ACFTU trumpets self-proclaimed achievements in poverty alleviation
ACFTU announces big recruitment drive in logistics and service industries
ACFTU jumps on Zhang Haichao bandwagon
ACFTU in Beijing issues guidelines for unionizing gig workers: What comes next?
Court finally rules on accident that killed 73 construction workers in 2016
Five labour activists released after 15 months in detention
How have China's trade unions responded to the coronavirus crisis?
China on high alert on fifth anniversary of Tianjin explosion