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Voice vs. Decision Making Power. Labor force totaling 807,300,000 China maintains strong relationship with workers in specific job classes All Chinese Federation of Trade Unions losing power and prestige among working class. D istrust between workers and management.
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Voice vs. Decision Making Power • Labor force totaling 807,300,000 • China maintains strong relationship with workers in specific job classes • All Chinese Federation of Trade Unions losing power and prestige among working class
Distrust between workers and management • Management once maintained that inputs from employees would get loyalty and stability in return • In last two decades, breach of mutual psychological contract: • Downsizing & Job hopping • Western Influence on Chinese organizations and workers
Worker Influence Diminished The Chinese Government and Party have long seen the ACFTU and other major social organizations as instruments of social oversight and control “Classification and Control” ; “Harmonious Society” In 2003, China’s Party and Government leaders faced with two major threats to social and political stability Vast numbers of laid off workers Migrant workers formed rights advocacy groups such as “co- villager groups”, “brotherhoods”, and “employee clubs”
Ad Hoc: “For this Purpose” • Sept 2004: “Decision Enhancing the Party’s Ruling Abilities” Necessity to further consciously strengthen the authority of the ruling party and its governance of the people • Aimed at building socialism and harmonious society • However, all measures were framed within the more important context of “Harmonious Society”
Ad Hoc: “For this Purpose” December 2006: “Concept of Rights Protection” emphasized proactive, lawful and scientific rights protection that puts workers first In reality, unions are limited to simply collating and appraising workers’ complaints, preparing reports for local party and government organizations and participating in local law and policymaking
Continuous: “To Hold Together” “Mass Incidents” • In 1994, China witnessed about 10,000 strikes, protests and public demonstrations • In 2005, these strikes, protests, and public demonstrations toppled 87,000. • Workers, Farmers, and other ordinary citizens disenfranchised and marginalized in process of rapid economic growth • In 2009, Incidents were at 127,467
Direct Channels of Representation A non-governmental organization founded in Hong Kong in 1994, China Labour Bulletin has grown from a small monitoring and research group into a proactive outreach organization that seeks to defend and promote the rights of workers in China. Support the development of democratically run trade unions, encourage respect and for and enforcement of the countries labour laws, as well as the full participation of workers in the creation of civil society
China Labour Bulletin Stance on ACFTU ACTFU's role has been blurred Failed to encourage the development of grassroots unions Adopted a top-down approach, imposing unions and collective contracts on enterprises without consulting the workers themselves
Worker Influence Growing China’s workers are taking the streets in increasing numbers Staging strikes, roadblocks and protests Workers taking matters into their own hands