Labour actions in the Pearl River Delta, 1st quarter of 2015: Images and analysis

Translated by Mihoutao from【2015年第一季度】珠三角劳工集体维权事件盘点及图文分析, by 锤子之声 (“Sound of the Hammer”) WeChat feed April 13 (reposted on Utopia here)

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Note from “Voice of the Hammer”: The content below is taken from Road’s (马路) post “Pearl River Delta Labour-Related Mass Incidents in Q1 2015 (2015年第一季度珠三角劳工集体事件盘点)” published last week. There are 23 recorded instances of such mass incidents, involving 21 enterprises and over 26,000 workers. All figures were sourced from the web, so some errors may be present. We have included only workers’ primary demands as causes. We invite corrections and criticisms from readers.

 

1. Breakdown by area

The majority of labour mass incidents occurred in Dongguan, Foshan and Shenzhen. Dongguan tops the list with 6 incidents, or 26% of the total. The mass incidents in Dongguan occurred all took place in March. Of the 5 incidents related to housing funds, 4 were in opposition to the new housing fund policies, and 1 was due to factory closures resulting in social security funds not being paid in full. Foshan saw 5 mass incidents ( 21.74%) and is the “hot zone” of pay cuts and unpaid wages, where Midea employees have gone on strike twice to protest pay cuts; 5 incidents occurred in Shenzhen, 3 of which involved compensation issues that arose from factory relocations and closures.

 

2. Breakdown by capital ownership

23 mass incidents involved 21 enterprises (Midea and G.Credit each saw 2 incidents). Of these 21 enterprises, 14 were foreign-owned (67%) and 5 were domestic-owned (23%).

 

3. Breakdown by cause

Among the 23 incidents, those with social security-related demands formed the majority, accounting for 48% of incidents; severance pay issues resulting from factory relocations, factory closures and contractual changes accounted for 34.8%. (A strike often includes many demands. As such, the chart above only plots the main demand of each incident. Workers affected by factory closures who demand severance pay also frequently have social security fund and pension related demands.)

 

4. Breakdown by police response

Of the 23 incidents, 11 (48%) involved unambiguous accounts of physical altercation between police and workers and the arrest of workers; 9 (39%) are without records of police intervention; 3 (13% of total) had clear reports of police presence but no clashes with workers.

 

5. Breakdown by success of demands

While most of the 23 incidents were covered  by the media or by the parties involved during their outbreaks, in 56.6% of cases the results are unclear due to either the lack or repression of follow-up media coverage. In 26% of the cases, workers were forced to compromise; demands were partially met and compensation did not meet legally mandated standards. In 13% of cases, the main demands of workers were unmet. In only one case (4.3%) were worker demands satisfactorily met (Citizen Micro), with compensation meeting legal requirements.

 

Appendix: “Collective labour actions in the PRD, first quarter of 2015 (【2015年第一季度】珠三角劳工集体维权事件盘点)” from 锤子之声 WeChat feed April 10

 

1. January 5: 3,000 Shenzhen G. Credit Electronics workers on strike over wage arrears
   

(Sorry, no pictures)

 

2. January 14: Over 200 Foshan Midea workers go on strike, demand raises

On 14^th January, more than 200 workers in the water heater department of Midea Kitchen Appliance Manufacturing Co. Ltd. went on strike, demanding raises. According to a worker, their monthly work hours amount to 33 eight hour work days; they work an hour and a half overtime every day, but receive a monthly salary of less than 3,000 yuan. The approximately 200 strikers came from a final assembly workshop. On January 15^th, because workers’ demands had not been met, they continued their strike and rallied outside the main gate to the industrial park, followed by a large police presence.

 

3. January 16: workers from four Shenzhen factories strike over asset transfer by bosses

Intentional transfer of machinery and equipment began April 2014, during which period the workers did not receive any explanation. At the time of the strike, nearly 50% [of machinery and equipment] had been transferred, and orders had largely been transferred to the Philippines, leading to marked reductions in workers’ income. After repeated demands to the company for an explanation and fruitless negotiations, workers went on strike to defend their rights on January 16^th, demanding full payment of overtime pay, legally-mandated social insurance and housing fund payments, and severance pay according to legal requirements upon termination of employment. To prevent owners from speeding up transfer of factory assets, workers spontaneously [organized]  a rotating 24-hour guard of the factory gates.

After the breakdown of negotiations on January 26th, in the early morning of the 27th, the government sent a large force dressed in army cami to the factory to clear the premises. [The forces] clashed with women workers resting in the security guard booth, leaving [some] women workers’ injured.

 

4. January 17: 100+ Shaoguan workers seeking unpaid wages suppressed

Xingfeng County, Shaoguan, Guangdong — The owner of Mingjia Logistics City fled without paying workers’ wages. One hundred and thirty construction workers went to the county government to protest and were suppressed by police. More than 10 people were arrested; 12 were injured, including two seriously injured.

 

5. January 19: Over 100 workers at Amber Appliance Co. in Foshan seeking unpaid wages suppressed

On 19^th January, over 100 workers at the Foshan, Guangdong Amber appliance Co. went to the Shunde district government to demand two months of wage arrears and were suppressed by police. More than ten workers were arrested. Amber Appliance Co. is located at 26 Shunpan road, Shunde district, Foshan city, Guangdong province. The boss fled in December 2014, leaving workers with two of unpaid salaries worth more than 2 million yuan. After fruitless pursuit [of compensation], workers went to the Shunde district government to demand their legal dues and were beaten by police. Many workers taking pictures had their phones snatched by the police. Videos of the beatings were forcibly deleted. Journalists were cordoned off from the area and more than ten people were arrested.

 

6. February 3: A group of workers from Yulu Furniture of Foshan stage sit-in in front of the township government

Longjiang township, Shunde district, Foshan, Guangdong — Unable to go home for the New Years’ due to wage arrears, a group of workers from Yulu Furniture unfurled banners and staged a sit-in in front of the township government building.

 

7. February 4: 200 workers at Shifeng Hardware Factory in Boluo County, Huizhou, Guangdong, take to the street and demand payment of unpaid wages

February 4th and 5^th, over 200 workers from Shifeng Hardware Factory in Boluo, Guangdong province demonstrated for two days, blocking traffic and demanding wage arrears. On the morning of February 5^th, the demonstration was suppressed and over 10 workers were arrested.

 

8. Over 1,000 workers at a Citizen watch factory protest against layoff

At 13:00 PM on February 5, Guangzhou Citizen Precision Co. suddenly announced to terminate labor contracts with all workers, but did not give compensation plan, triggering thousands of workers’ dissatisfaction with the company. The workers’ rally protest result in a lot of police repression, during which several workers were wounded and three workers were arrested.

On February 7^th, more than 300 employees walked to Huadu district government to seek explanation, where dozens of police officers guarded the site. The workers demanded double compensation instead of the one year and one month compensation that is provided by law.

On February 8, the factory decided to add one more month’s salary compensation. After that most of the workers have signed up the compensation agreement.

 

9. 5^th March, workers at Xingxiong shoe factory in Dongguan go on strike for housing accumulation fund

On 5^th March, Xingxiong Shoe factory announced the method of obtaining housing accumulation fund, claiming that those workers who have purchased the house after leaving the company have to provide the real estate licence in order to receive the refund. Workers were very dissatisfied with the plan and went on strike. On March 8th, the strike expanded to another affiliated shoe factory, Xingang factory. The strike culminated on 10^th March when the number of strikers reached to 5,000. The local government dispatched a large number of police with patrol dogs into the factory to force workers to return to work, one of workers got beaten and was arrested by police. The strike continued on March 11^th, when the number of participants reached to 8,000.

After government mediation, the factory agreed to pay the employer’s contributions for the housing accumulation fund and promised that workers can extract cash if they want to leave the factory.

 

10. 8^th March, workers at Lizhi toy factory in Shenzhen go on strike

Due to decreased orders, workers’ wage in the plant plummeted recently. They have been on strike twice, demanding labor contract termination and economic compensation. Since the afternoon of March 7^th, because of that the factory didn’t give a reply within the time they promised, over 100 workers took to the roof to protest.

 

11. 10^th March, over 1,000 workers at Zhongtianxin electronics factory in Shenzhen protest for compensation against plant closure
    

10^th March, several hundred workers gathered at government building of Longgang district, Shenzhen, protesting 10 days work stoppage by employer. On March 12, over 1,000 workers held a demonstration, protesting against plant closure and compensation. Dozens of police arrived at the scene to expel the workers and arrested two workers after some physical conflicts.

该公司大部份员工来自湖北、湖南一带，目前有三四百名员工已辞工，但是公司只按照工龄每年600元，每半年加150元的方式进行赔偿，这远远低于劳动法所规定的赔偿额，工人们要求按照劳动法的规定进行赔偿。

 

12. 12^th March, over 1,000 workers at Assa Abloy security tech company in Zhongshan strike over wage deductions

Workers at a plant of Assa Abloy in Zhongshan went on strike on 12^th March, protesting against the wage deduction. According to some workers, the wages had been declining since the Chinese New Year festival, resulting in a deduction of 400 to 600 Yuan to their monthly wage. Although the company provided the food and accommodation, workers were very disappointed with the wage. The strike continues until 13^th.

 

13. Workers at a Midea plant in Foshan strike over wage deductions

Due to an increase of work and decrease of payment, especially that the basic wage was deducted without any justification, hundreds of workers in the Midea plant went on strike on March 14^th. Workers went to the company’s headquarter in Shunde district to ask for explanation. According to some workers, wages in February still haven’t been paid, and now workers work overtime every day. The workload increased, but wages are only one-third of that before.

 

14. 16^th March, 5,000 workers strike at a Yajun eyewear factory in Shenzhen, protesting wage adjustment

On March 16^th, 5,000 eyewear factory workers went on strike, demanding equal pay for equal work. On March 20^th, because of the unequal wage adjustment and social insurance arrears, those workers went on strike again and almost 1, 000 of them went out of the factory and blocked the traffic, resulting in a large presence of police.

 

15. 16^th March, over 80 sanitation workers in Haizhu district, Guangzhou go on strike

Hongxing Company’s street cleaning contract with the neighborhood government was due to expire at the end of March and the company had not completed their contribution of social insurance and housing fund. After fruitless petition to the neighborhood government, over 80 workers went on strike. On 19^th March, workers took to street, and police arrested two of them.

 

16. 17^th March, 3,000 workers strike at Yuyuan’s three new footwear plants in Dongguan

Nearly 3,000 workers went on strike on March 17^th, demanding housing fund payments and work adjustment.

3月17日，东莞高埗裕元新三厂近三千工人因住房公积金及工厂合并等原因发生全厂罢工，工人要求买断工龄及退回全部公积金。据了解，裕元3厂跟裕元1厂合 并，有一些工人担心，由于工作调整会影响他们的工作，要求解除劳动合同及补偿，还有一部分可能因为住房公积金的一些事情，要求原来的住房公积金取出来。

 

17. 18^th March, workers at Jundi garment plan in Dongguan protest against boss’s abscondence

Over 200 workers at a textile factory in Dongguan walked to the municipal government to protect their legal rights on March 18^th. Because the boss fled, workers’ health care insurance was suspended.

2015年3月18日早上10点，东莞中堂镇均迪制衣厂逾200工人维权无门，步行五个小时前往市政府讨说法。因为老板潜逃，工人社保公积金只扣不缴，工 人尚有半月工资未发。据悉，均迪所有工人的住房公积金从2013年12月开始只扣不缴，社保从2014年11月开始只扣不缴，工人过年期间去医院看病才发 现医保卡不能使用。工人2月1日至2月14日工资也未发放。而工厂倒闭所涉及的遣散费用更是无从着落。

 

18. 18^th March 50 workers at an energy company in Dongguan held banner to the government, demanding wage arrears and compensation of plant closure (东莞强强新能源50名员工前往市政府举牌要求支付欠薪和关厂补偿)

(Sorry, no pictures.)

 

19. 19^th March, workers at a tech company in Dongguan strike over social insurance arrears (东莞市精成科技集团工人罢工抗议公司欠缴社保)

Over 500 workers went on strike during 19^th and 20^th March, protesting against the housing fund arrears. These workers continued with their strike on March 23t, demanding social insurance contribution by employer and higher wage. Several workers were arrested.

3月19至20日，广东省东莞市精成科技集团EMS事业部500余工人连日罢工，抗议公司欠缴住房公积金。3月23日，广东省东莞市精成科技集团工人继续 罢工，抗议公司欠缴社保并要求提高工资待遇，期间，不断有工人加入罢工，人数已超过千人，数百警察进入厂区戒备。工人一度与工厂保安发生冲突，数名工人被 抓捕。

 

20. Thousands workers at a shoe factory in Zhongshan go on strike (3月23日中山坦洲欣昌鞋厂几千人停工维权)

On March 23^rd, workers at a shoe factory strike over housing fund arrears. Thousands workers took to the street, leading to the presence of more than 200 police. Some workers got beaten and were arrested.

3月23日，因中山市坦洲镇欣昌鞋厂 长期未为员工缴纳公积金，经员工多次提出仍未能解决。因此，于今天全厂员工大罢工，抗议厂方欠缴十几年的住房公积金。员工于2015年3月23日早上集数 千人在汇昌路、界狮北路到界狮南路整一条街集体罢工，当地政府部门出动两百多名治安武警，双方并发生冲突。网上的消息指，有十几名工人被殴打并带走。坦洲 整个交通全面瘫痪。

 

21. 24^th March, workers at a handbag manufacture in Zhongshan protest against wage deduction and social insurance arrears (3月24日中山翠亨制包厂员工罢工，抗议保底工资减少拖欠社保)

Over 200 workers went on strike on March 24^th over social insurance arrears, wage deduction, and layoff. The strike was followed by police suppression and 25 workers were arrested.

3月24日，广东中山市日资企业翠亨制包厂200名工人罢工维权，抗议公司欠缴社保、克扣工资、强行解聘10名工人等，遭200余名警察镇压，多人被打伤，25名工人被抓捕，4名工人代表遭行政拘留15天。

 

22. 27^th March, workers strike at a plant of Hisense Kelon in Foshan, demanding compensation for relocation
    

On March 28^th, hundreds of workers went on strike at a plant of Hisense Kelon which is an air conditioning maker in Foshan, protesting the plant relocation, compensation and housing fund arrears.

 

Note: All figures were sourced from the web, so some errors may be present. All information we can find is present here. We are sure that there must be many collective actions that we have no way to know.