Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/994/27324
From The Socialist newspaper, 9 May 2018
China: Impressive, coordinated and daring crane drivers' strikes
Crane drivers in China's construction industry have taken strike action in dozens of cities across the country. It is quite simply the most impressive, coordinated and daring action taken by any group of workers in China for many years.
On 1 May, Labour Day, the workers called for a nationwide strike after a week filled with rolling strikes in different regions. Although May Day is a legal holiday in China, large numbers of workers are required to work, often without extra pay.
This is China - where strikes are illegal, organising is illegal, and protests are illegal.
The strike embraced 20 of China's provinces. A striking worker in Chengdu, just one city in one province on strike, told The Global Times newspaper, "There are at least 10,000 crane operators in Chengdu appealing for a salary raise."
The strike faces the world's most powerful dictatorial state.
The crane drivers have organised themselves online like many other workers in China, setting up closed chat groups on instant messaging apps such as QQ. These forums are attacked and blocked by the cyber police but regroup to maintain contact.
China's crane drivers, like almost all construction workers, are mainly migrants from poorer rural regions. Like most migrant workers they are hired casually, without job contracts, pensions or medical insurance. Crane drivers work under extreme pressure, on long shifts, without toilet breaks or rest periods.
Construction sites in China famously work around the clock. "If we are required to work for eight to nine hours, and then work more overtime at night, there will be no extra pay," one crane driver from Henan told Radio Free Asia. "You can work overtime until two o'clock in the morning, and the boss won't care. You can still have to work tomorrow as well."
The crane drivers are demanding a minimum pay of at least 7,000 yuan ($1,100) a month. Their wages have stagnated for a decade.
We are witnessing the stirring of a giant. Half the world's construction sites are in China and its construction workforce numbers around 60 million. It is a major contributor to China's GDP.
Chinaworker.info declares our full solidarity with the striking crane drivers, to fight for the realisation of their demands in full. We deplore the state repression against these workers and call for international workers' solidarity with the strikes, and the release of the arrested strikers. The need for independent workers' unions is once again underlined by this struggle, which also shows the enormous potential power of China's working class.
- Full article at chinaworker.info
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 9 May 2018:
Local elections 2018
Local election results are a major warning sign for Labour
Southampton: Keith Morrell, anti-cuts councillor, re-elected
Haringey councillors need to fight austerity now
TUSC vote up in Waltham Forest but many voters stay away
TUSC stands against Birmingham council's cuts and attacks on workers
Strong TUSC result in Huddersfield
France '68
France '68: History's greatest general strike erupts
Socialist Party news and analysis
US president suggests gun control to blame for London knife deaths
Use TUC march as launch pad for action on pay
Breast cancer screening scandal
Israel/Palestine
Socialists fight for Palestinian liberation and workers' unity
Socialists in Israel-Palestine reject establishment antisemitism charge against Jeremy Corbyn
Obituaries
Roger Shrives, 5 April 1947 - 1 May 2018
Keith Pattenden 28 September 1955 - 1 May 2018
Obituary: Tony Byrne 1939 - 2018
Socialist Party workplace news
Hull Energy Works: Unofficial strike action reinstates victimised workers
Defend Hull FE College - defend our city!
Victory against academisation at Avenue Primary
Firefighters ballot for action
PCS: A fighting strategy to defeat the Tory pay cap
International socialist news and analysis
Teachers revolt in Trump country
China: Impressive, coordinated and daring crane drivers' strikes
Home | The Socialist 9 May 2018 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook