2010 Chinese labour unrest
{{Short description|Labour dispute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
The 2010 Chinese labour unrest was a series of labour disputes, strike actions, and protests in the south of the People's Republic of China that saw striking workers successfully receive higher pay packages.[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67R1BE20100828 China tells Japan wage demands "understandable"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105190206/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67R1BE20100828 |date=5 January 2021 }} reuters.com, Sat 28 August 2010 1:17 pm EDT
Among the incidents were a string of employee suicides at Taiwan-owned electronics manufacturer Foxconn and strike actions at Honda factories in Guangdong province, both of which resulted in wage increases.*For Foxconn suicides, see {{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Media/foxconn-china-assembly-workers-receive-pay-raise/story?id=10846341 |title=Foxconn China Assembly Workers Receive Pay Raise |work=ABC News |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-date=20 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220060514/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Media/foxconn-china-assembly-workers-receive-pay-raise/story?id=10846341 |url-status=live }}
- For Honda factories, see {{cite web |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-to-seek-better-labor-relations-in-china-2010-06-16?siteid=rss |title=Honda to seek better labor relations in China |publisher=MarketWatch |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 }}
The Economist stated that wages were merely rising to make up for lost ground due to wage freezes, and China's inflationary monetary environment at the time made regular pay rises a necessity for workers concerned with maintaining a high quality of life.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Reuters quoted Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, as saying, "this has both good and bad elements. A wage increase is not necessarily bad if properly managed. The experience of the past 100 years shows that auto workers become auto consumers also."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65T4PK20100709 |title=Toyota chief: China labor trend both good and bad |work=Reuters |date=9 July 2010 |access-date=11 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100720124305/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65T4PK20100709| archive-date= 20 July 2010 | url-status= live}}
The events at Honda and Foxconn were followed by a string of labour-related protests and strikes at foreign-owned factories, mostly in the south of the country.
Foreign companies
Although most of the strikes did take place at foreign-owned facilities,{{cite news|last=Jackson |first=Allison |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hA5JaF2mZbVlS0gJ7yG_vea92wTw |agency=AFP |title=Foreign firms in China targeted in labour unrest |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100621053933/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hA5JaF2mZbVlS0gJ7yG_vea92wTw| archive-date= 21 June 2010 | url-status= dead}} a few Chinese companies also experienced labor unrest.[https://www.thestar.com/news/world/china/article/820395--labour-strife-rolls-across-china "Labour strife rolls across China:] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611055245/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/china/article/820395--labour-strife-rolls-across-china |date=11 June 2010 }} Textile workers toiling for pennies say they’ve had enough" article by Bill Schiller in The Toronto Star 8 June 2010
=Foxconn=
{{Main|2010 Foxconn suicides|Foxconn union}}
In 2009 Sun Danyong, an employee of electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group, committed suicide.{{cite news|last=Ramsy |first=Austin |title=Chinese Factory Under Scrutiny As Suicides Mount |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1991620,00.html |newspaper=TIME |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=17 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630230330/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1991620%2C00.html |archive-date=30 June 2010 |url-status=dead}} Reports emerged of questionable labour practices at Foxconn factories,{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/26/content_9893086.htm |title=Suicides at Foxconn reveal woes |work=China Daily |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530083511/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/26/content_9893086.htm |archive-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead}} and a number of other suicides occurred in 2010. Foxconn announced that workers with a monthly wage of 900 RMB ($131.77 at the time) would immediately receive a 30% increase, to 1200 RMB, with a spokesman stating that "It's been a while since we increased wages, hence the decision."[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/business/global/02foxconn.html "Foxconn Raises Worker Pay 30%"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225132633/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/business/global/02foxconn.html |date=25 February 2017 }} article from Bloomberg News printed in The New York Times 1 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/business/global/03foxconn.html "After Spate of Suicides, Technology Firm in China Raises Workers’ Salaries"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820074420/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/business/global/03foxconn.html |date=20 August 2017 }} article by David Barboza 2 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/business/global/07foxconn.html "Foxconn Increases Size of Raise in Chinese Factories"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421062143/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/business/global/07foxconn.html |date=21 April 2017 }} article by David Barboza in The New York Times 6 June 2010
=Honda=
Starting 17 May, a prolonged strike at a Honda automobile parts factory resulted in suspension of operations at all[https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0601/Honda-stalled-as-China-workers-mull-wage-increase Honda stalled as China workers mull wage increase] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611205027/https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0601/Honda-stalled-as-China-workers-mull-wage-increase |date=11 June 2023 }} csmonitor.com, Elaine Kurtenbach, Associated Press / 1 June 2010 four of Honda's Chinese production bases, which are located in Guangdong and Hubei provinces.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-31/honda-says-chinese-parts-plant-closed-by-strike-may-not-reopen-tomorrow.html Honda's China Plants Remain Closed as Talks Continue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103180204/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-31/honda-says-chinese-parts-plant-closed-by-strike-may-not-reopen-tomorrow.html |date=3 November 2012 }} bloomberg.com, Makiko Kitamura – 31 May 2010 5:06 pm PT The high-profile[http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE64R1SJ20100601 Honda China production still out after strike and clashes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314071052/http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE64R1SJ20100601 |date=14 March 2012 }} reuters.com, Tue 1 June 2010 6:51 am EDT strike was covered in domestic[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610132714/http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-05/31/c_13326022.htm Some workers at Honda's China parts plant still on strike] xinhuanet.com, 31 May 2010{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90002/96743/7014872.html |title=Li Hong's column |work=People's Daily |date=7 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100615174043/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90002/96743/7014872.html| archive-date= 15 June 2010 | url-status= live}}[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/business/global/29honda.html "Strike in China Highlights Gap in Workers’ Pay"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113044749/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/business/global/29honda.html |date=13 January 2017 }} article by Keith Bradsher and David Barboza in The New York Times 28 May 2010 and international media.
Pay raises of 24%[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-01/honda-says-it-plans-to-resume-full-operations-at-china-parts-plant-today.html Honda Restarts Operations at Chinese Auto-parts Factory Today After Strike] bloomberg.com, Makiko Kitamura – 1 June 2010 11:30 pm PT halted the strike action in early June.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-02-la-fi-china-labor-20100602-story.html China's factory workers finding, and flexing, their muscle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204184402/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-02-la-fi-china-labor-20100602-story.html |date=4 February 2021 }} latimes.com, une 02, 2010
Honda is believed to have lost 3 billion yuan in sales as a result.{{cite news |url=http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/06/honda-lost-yuan-3-billion-in-sales-on-strike/ |title=Honda Lost Yuan 3 Billion in Sales on Strike |publisher=ChinaAutoWeb.com |access-date=25 September 2010 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722042543/http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/06/honda-lost-yuan-3-billion-in-sales-on-strike/ |url-status=live }}
Other strikes at different Honda parts factories followed.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/business/global/09labor.html "Power Grows for Striking Chinese Workers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408012113/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/business/global/09labor.html |date=8 April 2017 }} article by David Barboza and Hiroko Tabuchi 8 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/business/global/11strike.html "A Labor Movement Stirs in China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927092621/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/business/global/11strike.html |date=27 September 2015 }} article by Keith Bradsher in The New York Times 10 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/business/global/13strike.html "Some Return to Work for Honda Amid Strike"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421131240/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/business/global/13strike.html |date=21 April 2017 }} article by Keith Bradsher in The New York Times 12 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/business/global/14strike.html "With Concessions, Honda Strike Fizzles in China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202222445/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/business/global/14strike.html |date=2 February 2018 }} article by Keith Bradher in The New York Times 13 June 2010[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/global/19strike.html "Honda Strikers in China Offered Less Than Demanded"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202214554/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/global/19strike.html |date=2 February 2018 }} article by Andrew Jacobs in The New York Times 18 June 2010
=Toyota=
In mid-June strikes spread to Toyota plants.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/business/global/23strike.html "With Strike, Toyota Idles Auto Plant in China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202212635/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/business/global/23strike.html |date=2 February 2018 }} article by Hiroko Tabuchi in The New York Times 22 June 2010
Media response
According to The New York Times after initial nationwide coverage of the strikes, domestic media coverage was swiftly curtailed. Restrictions on the local, Chinese press were also reported by The Financial Times.[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a6aca74e-74c5-11df-aed7-00144feabdc0.html "China: Strike force"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613051052/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a6aca74e-74c5-11df-aed7-00144feabdc0.html |date=13 June 2010 }} article by Tom Mitchell in The Financial Times 10 June 2010 22:40 | Last updated: 10 June 2010 22:40. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
The same day as The New York Times report, China Daily published seven articles (3 of them rewrites/reposts) dealing with the strikes and worker relations, however.{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-06/18/content_9987676.htm |title=Strike at Toyota parts supplier ends quickly |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607034223/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-06/18/content_9987676.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2010-06/18/content_9987347.htm |title=Labor unrest and role of unions |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100624011930/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2010-06/18/content_9987347.htm| archive-date= 24 June 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/18/content_9986446.htm |title=KFC latest company to increase salaries |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100621124520/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/18/content_9986446.htm| archive-date= 21 June 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9986648.htm |title=Strike at Toyota parts supplier ends quickly |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607034322/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9986648.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9986871.htm |title=KFC latest company to increase salaries |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214092444/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9986871.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9987057.htm |title=Labor unrest and role of unions |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-date=2 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202094135/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/18/content_9987057.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2010-06/18/content_9986622.htm |title=The minimum wage should signal a change in social values |work=China Daily |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100731055841/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2010-06/18/content_9986622.htm| archive-date= 31 July 2010 | url-status= live}}
Technology aids strikers
The New York Times mentioned the use of technology by striking workers in one article. Detailed accounts of strikes were posted online by the strikers hours after they began, and videos were uploaded by the strikers showing confrontations between management and employees.{{cite news|last=Barboza |first=David |title=In China, Labor Movement Enabled by Technology |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/business/global/17strike.html?src=busln |date=16 June 2010 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620012142/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/business/global/17strike.html?src=busln |archive-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=live}} Striking workers avoided using popular online networking tool QQ in favour of text messaging to escape the scrutiny of government internet censors who regularly monitor the site. Online forums were used to share strategies and grievances.
Economic policy implications
Economist Cai Fang remarked in a paper cited by China Daily that the country has hit its Lewisian turning point and mentioned that China must seek "new engines for economic growth".{{cite news|title=Economics Focus: Socialist Workers |url=http://www.economist.com/node/16319562?story_id=16319562 |newspaper=The Economist |date=10 June 2010 |access-date=18 June 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/03/content_9926008.htm |title=Strikes signal end to cheap labor |work=China Daily |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606223212/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/03/content_9926008.htm |archive-date=6 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}
China is considering taking policy steps to double average wages over the five years from 2011,{{cite news|title=China Mulls 'Income-Doubling Plan'|url=http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100608D08JFA05.htm|date=8 June 2010|access-date=16 June 2010|newspaper=The Nikkei|archive-date=12 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612105447/http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20100608D08JFA05.htm|url-status=live}} and several Chinese provinces raised the legal minimum wage. State media also stated that higher wages will help boost domestic consumption and help move China away from a reliance on exports for growth towards an economy more driven by domestic consumption.{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-06/08/content_9948967.htm |title=BofA: Salary gains to damp capital spending |work=China Daily |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-date=16 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116195554/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-06/08/content_9948967.htm |url-status=live }}
Economist Andy Xie said that there is ample scope for increased wages in China due to its superior infrastructure as compared to competing, low-wage alternative nations.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100630225605/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-10/china-s-rising-wages-won-t-deter-investment-xie-says-update3-.html "China's Rising Wages Won't Deter Investment, Xie Says"] BusinessWeek 10 June 2010
Government response
Strikes are not new in China. Chinese authorities have long tolerated limited, local protests by workers unhappy over wages or other issues.{{cite news|last=Bodeen |first=Christopher |title=Strikes put China on spot over labor unrest |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5BkeP4BJld7crj9SWZxlnD8EwCAD9G914E80 |date=11 June 2010 |access-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613183215/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5BkeP4BJld7crj9SWZxlnD8EwCAD9G914E80 |archive-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead}} The Pearl River Delta alone has up to 10,000 labor disputes each year. In the spring of 2008, a local union official described strikes as "as natural as arguments between a husband and wife".{{cite news|last=Han |first=Dongfang |title=China's Workers Are Stirring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17iht-edhan.html |work=International Herald Tribune |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620030732/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17iht-edhan.html |archive-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=live}} The Chinese government sought balance on the issue; while it has recently repeated calls for increased domestic consumption through wage increases and regulations, it is also aware that labour unrest could cause political instability.{{cite web |url=http://tianjin.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/11/content_9963597.htm |title=Addressing social conflicts |work=China Daily |date=11 June 2010 |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831042121/http://tianjin.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/11/content_9963597.htm |archive-date=31 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Watts |first=Jonathan |title=Strikes in China signal end to era of low-cost labour and cheap exports |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/17/china-strikes-economy |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 June 2010 |location=London |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621082856/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/17/china-strikes-economy |archive-date=21 June 2010 |url-status=live}}
In response to the string of employee suicides at Foxconn, Guangdong CPC chief Wang Yang called on companies to improve their treatment of workers. Wang said that "economic growth should be people-oriented".{{cite news|last=Wang |first=Yang |title=Guangdong Party chief urges companies to care more for employees after Foxconn suicides |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-05/29/c_13322933.htm |publisher=Xinhua |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602081838/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-05/29/c_13322933.htm |archive-date=2 June 2010 |url-status=dead}} As the strikes intensified, Wang went further by calling for more effective negotiations mechanisms, particularly the reform of existing trade unions.{{cite web|title=汪洋为何强调转变经济发展方式中更要注重"人文关怀"？|url=http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64093/64103/11892007.html|publisher=cpc.cn|access-date=17 June 2010|archive-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326015058/http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64093/64103/11892007.html|url-status=live}} At the same time, authorities began shutting down some websites reporting on the labour incidents, and have restricted reporting, particularly on strikes occurring at domestic-owned factories.{{cite news|last=Schiller |first=Bob |title=Labour strife rolls across China |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/china/article/820395--labour-strife-rolls-across-china |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611055245/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/china/article/820395--labour-strife-rolls-across-china |archive-date=11 June 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=中国官方封堵罢工消息 (Chinese authorities restrict news on strikes) |url=http://society.dwnews.com/news/2010-06-17/56090390.html |newspaper=Duowei |date=18 June 2010 |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621120811/http://society.dwnews.com/news/2010-06-17/56090390.html |archive-date=21 June 2010 |url-status=dead}} Guangdong province also announced plans to "professionalize union staff" by taking union representatives off of company payroll to ensure their independence from management influence.{{cite web|last=Cao|first=Tongqing|title=广东将试点工会干部职业化 (Guangdong will attempt to professionalize union cadres)|url=http://society.dwnews.com/news/2010-06-14/56082179.html|publisher=Duowei|access-date=14 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628091822/http://society.dwnews.com/news/2010-06-14/56082179.html|archive-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead}}
On 14 June, Premier Wen Jiabao visited construction workers on Beijing Subway's Line 6. Wen said to the workers: "Your work is glorious and should be respected by society at large. Migrant workers should be cared for, protected and respected, especially the younger generation of them ... The government and the public should be treating the young migrant workers like their own children."{{cite news|last=Tran|first=Tini|title=China premier Wen Jiabao urges improved treatment of migrant workers amid labour unrest|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jR_L83Yv9JYsuVZMDWlXYh-QQzyA|newspaper=The Canadian Press|date=16 June 2010| access-date=18 June 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} A day later, without mention of strikes, People's Daily released an editorial that warned the country's manufacturing model could be at a turning point and urged employers to raise salaries. In addition, the party's official newspaper said that China's development model should look towards creating more service-sector jobs and increasing domestic consumption.
List of labour incidents
The following is a list of cases; the list is not complete.
See also
References
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{{21st-century unrest in China|state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese labour unrest, 2010}}