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Crocs Shoe Factory Workers Strike in Dongguan, Guangdong

21:23 May 8 2012 Dongguan Guangdong China

Crocs Shoe Factory Workers Strike in Dongguan, Guangdong Crocs Shoe Factory Workers Strike in Dongguan, Guangdong
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From CLB:

When the boss refuses to listen to workers’ grievances, those workers often have no option but to go on strike. But whether or not this tactic works sometimes depends on workers’ media advocacy skills.

On 7 May, workers at a Taiwanese-owned Crocs shoe factory in Dongguan heard that their monthly performance bonus would fall from 500 yuan to 100 yuan. Given that the bonus usually accounted for one fifth of their income, this was a big deal. They complained to the management who as usual didn’t bother to listen. In the afternoon of 8 May, around 1,000 workers, one third of the workforce, decided not to go to work.

But given the relatively isolated location of the factory, well hidden within a gigantic industrial park, the workers’ action didn’t get much attention, not to mention government intervention. When CLB called the factory office, the factory denied the bonus dispute by saying that workers wouldn’t know their bonus until the middle of this month.

One young worker, in anticipation of this official response, started posting strike information on his Weibo page in order to generate public support and media attention. To validate his account, he posted a photo showing the empty workshop during working hours.

CLB then posted a story about the strike on our Weibo page with the worker’s photographic evidence. The story immediately got the attention of labour rights activists and news reporters in Guangdong. Within one hour or so, the post had been retweeted more than 50 times.

In the late afternoon, the young worker told CLB that around five reporters had gathered at the factory gate but their attempts to get in had been foiled by security. The local labour bureau showed up as well.

In the morning of 9 May, CLB learnt that after government mediation, factory management had agreed to raise the bonus from the initial 100 yuan to at least 300 yuan. As a result the factory’s operations have basically returned to normal.

The young worker could not hide his exuberance when his effort to seek media attention during the strike paid off and reaped a substantial bonus increase for over one thousand of his coworkers.

In contrast, late last month, hundreds of employees stopped working at a Chongqing auto factory in protest against increasing workloads and stagnant pay levels over the last few years. The three-day strike got no traditional media coverage and only limited social media exposure and was eventually subdued by management’s threat of dismissal.

It is hard to imagine how the one thousand Dongguan workers’ voices could have been heard without one young worker’s persistent and successful media liaison, especially the use of Weibo. Microblogs have become a relatively free platform for workers, labour scholars, rights advocates, journalists and even trade union officials to interact and exchange information. But to get your particular cause noticed on this overloaded platform definitely requires skill and persistence. And it’s comforting to see China’s tightening control over this new social platform hasn’t balked workers’ attempts to get their voices heard.

From JTTP:

5月8日下午,东莞黄江镇裕元工业园内台湾宝成集团旗下的福泰crocs鞋厂1000余名工人因不满上个月奖金太低罢工。一名工人表示,如果管理层不给出满意的答复,罢工会一直持续。截至发稿之时(5月8日上午12时),公司领导还未出面给工人一个满意的答复。有工人揣测,奖金降低的原因是工厂上个月的效益不高。

该名爆料工人向CLB记者说道,以前每个月的奖金有400-600元,而上个月仅有100元左右。工人的基本工资为1100元,加上加班费后不到2000元。奖金约占工人月收入的五分之一。

“我们基本上都是月光族,现在奖金没有了,让我们怎么活?!”该名工人提到,他们在几天前就向领导们反映,要求提高奖金,但该厂领导并未积极处理。5月8日上午,该厂2个车间的工人自发停下了手上的工作,在下午本来是上班的时间走出了鞋厂。

CLB记者致电福泰鞋厂,得到的回复是没有罢工。4月份的工资5月中旬才会出来,工人没有理由提前知道4月份的奖金情况。

而爆料的工人则反映,5月7日,车间科长就已经与他们确认了4月份的奖金额度。现在富泰厂两个车间都没有开工,车间里面一片漆黑。他表示不会担心被工厂辞退。“我们都想好了。明天早上如果领导不给我们一个满意的答复,我们继续罢工。反正奖金这么少,干着也没有意思。”

互联网公开资料显示,东莞黄江福泰crocs鞋厂於2005年落户於东莞市黄江镇裕元高新光电园区内。於2007年11月全面竣工投产,属於世界第一大制鞋企业--臺湾"宝成集团"的全资附属公司东莞黄江福泰塑料厂之新厂,专业生产世界著名品牌crocs户外休閒系列。CLB记者了解到,如果在工厂外租房的话,每个月吃、穿的花销约为1000元。

去年底,同在裕元工业园的台湾宝成集团子公司裕成鞋厂工人持续罢工一周,抗议加班时间变少,导致工人们每月实际工资收入至少减少了500元。CLB记者去该厂采访时了解到,该工厂大概有6000-7000名女工,2000名左右男工。工厂向员工提供8人一间的集体宿舍,每月45元。工厂有食堂,伙食费从工人每月工资里扣。员工在厂里结婚生子后,厂方会出面,安排儿童就近读书,还有校车往返接送。

CLB记者会继续关注事态进展。



5月9日更新:

5月9日,CLB记者从富泰厂工人的微博上了解到,5月8日下午,当地劳动局介入下,工厂管理层及参与罢工车间的六、七名科长进行协商,决定将工人们4月份奖金平均提高到至少300元。参与罢工的工人均未被辞退。

爆料工人向CLB记者表示,5月9日早上,该厂三楼的罢工车间均已经恢复正常运营。二楼某些车间约有几百名工人仍表示对协商结果不甚满意,不情愿复工。

CLB记者了解到,该厂的管理架构是工人、班长(管理十几名工人)、组长(管理六七十名工人)及科长(管理约100名工人)。罢工工人未直接参与管理层协商。
Credibility: UP DOWN 0

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