Strikes proliferate in China as working class awakens

[Omaha Steve]

In this image taken from APTN video shot on March 26, 2015, Shi Jieying talks from her sickbed after she was hospitalized with heart trouble at Nanlang hospital in Zhongshan city in southern China's Guangdong Province. Timid by nature, Shi took a risk in March and joined fellow workers in a strike at her handbag factory, one of a surging number of such labor protests across China. (AP Photo/APTN)


http://apnews.excite.com/image/20150406/221866346053-China_Labor_Movement_20150406.html?date=20150406&docid=as--china-labor_movement-900f9764a7

Apr 6, 2:46 AM (ET)

By DIDI TANG

NANLANG TOWNSHIP, China (AP) — Timid by nature, Shi Jieying took a risk last month and joined fellow workers in a strike at her handbag factory, one of a surging number of such labor protests across China.

Riot police flooded into the factory compound, broke up the strike and hauled away dozens of workers. Terrified by the violence, Shi was hospitalized with heart trouble, but with a feeble voice from her sickbed expressed a newfound boldness.

"We deserve fair compensation," said Shi, 41, who makes $4,700 a year at Cuiheng Handbag Factory in Nanlang, in southern China. Only recently, she had learned she had the right to social security funding and a housing allowance — two of the issues at stake in the strike.

"I didn't think of it as protesting, just defending our rights," she said.

FULL story at link.

[Warpy]

1. They see bankers and owners getting fatter and fatter

while they work long hours and often get stiffed on payday.

You bet they're waking up. They're not going to stay obediently asleep for long.

The era of near slave labor in Asia might be nearing its end.

[misterhighwasted]

3. Yes. And US global corps profit heartily as they pay scant wages in China,

..while paying no taxes in the US. We all carry the burden as the U S Corps reap what should belong to us all.
Such a sickness.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

2. This is GREAT news for ALL labor on the planet, especially Americans

Timid by nature, Shi Jieying took a risk last month and joined fellow workers in a strike at her handbag factory, one of a surging number of such labor protests across China.

Riot police flooded into the factory compound, broke up the strike and hauled away dozens of workers. Terrified by the violence, Shi was hospitalized with heart trouble, but with a feeble voice from her sickbed expressed a newfound boldness.

This should make all Americans happy, for the reason I shouldnt have to explain, but I bet the same group of idiots will be against labor unions in China.

[misterhighwasted]

4. Is this the foreboding vision of TPP. Global slave labor?

How I see it anyway.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

5. Are strikes a vision of TPP? No, just the opposite

[misterhighwasted]

6. No. With TPP laborers will have no ability to strike.

TPP Nations have the final say.
I applaud these workers' efforts to protest for wages & conditions. By all means.
The oppression that they are fighting against, is what TPP Corporations would prefer for their laborers with no ability to demand better pay or conditions.

TPP would prefer to have a controlled & oppressed labor class to choose from.
What China's workers are now fighting against.
I wish them success, absolutely.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

7. Sure, TPP sucks, I wasnt relating the two in this article, BUT it is a good thing to remind

ourselves of.

I just wish Obama didnt owe somebody, but he does, it is the only explanation for his unwavering support of this terrible idea.

[misterhighwasted]

10. I hear ya. Obama's determination in securing TPP tells me also that he has made a deal with the devi

The whole thing smells and is oddly uncharacteristic of the Pres Obama we know.
Was he actually 'selected' for this purpose? Is that how the US Presidency is chosen anymore?

I don't know what to think, but it was a very big power deal, that got him to agree to push thru the secretive TPP.

Now I may be way off base in this line of thinking but something is just not making sense.
Tinfoil hat is wearing thin on this deal.

[treestar]

8. Yes, exactly

When Chinese labor is not easy to exploit, they will be more like us and not willing to work on terms that encourages the companies to move their factories there.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

9. Then we work on India and Vietnam, etc...but yes, this would be a big win

[misterhighwasted]

11. We need to form a counter to Global Corporations..

A Global Union for Employees of Global Corporations.