Chinese Authorities Back Down After Steel Workers Protest

In China, protests can sometimes end with police making mass arrests, or even opening fire. Yet last Friday the Jilin Provincial authorities backed down after pressure from protesting steel workers. The workers were protesting the takeover of their company amidst fears of layoffs. Ben Hedges reports.
Employees of Jilin province state-owned steel manufacturer Tonghua celebrated on Friday night. It came after authorities agreed to stop an unpopular takeover by another company.

The takeover involved privately owned Jianlong Steel. Jianlong wanted to buy a controlling stake in Tonghua, and their plan was to get rid of more than 80% of the workers.

On Friday, July 24th, thousands of workers started to protest outside the Tonghua factory. Carrying banners with slogans like Get out of Tonghua the protesters clashed with riot police, who were called in from other cities.

The protest came to a head on Friday evening, when Jianlong Steel general manager Chen Guojun spoke with representatives of the angered workers. Chen threatened to lay off almost the entire Tonghua workforce.

The protestors pulled Chen outside and by 7pm he had been beaten to death.

A Tonghua employee told us in a phone interview that by this time the number of workers plus family members who came to support had reached 30 to 40 thousand.

[Tonghua Employee]:
"The workers all went, possibly about 70 to 80 percent went."

Police could not control the situation. The mayor of Tonghua city, who had rushed to the scene, was forced to retreat under police escort. Angry workers destroyed three police vehicles.

Yet events took an unusual turn that evening, as the Jilin provincial government announced that it would not permit Jianlong Steel to merge with Tonghua.

After this was reported on a local TV station that night, protestors set off firecrackers to celebrate.

News agency AFP reported on Tuesday that police are stepping up the investigation into the killing of Mr Chen. But at least for now, Chinese workers have won a rare victory in a land where, regardless of the law, the authorities so often have the final say.

This is Ben Hedges, NTD News.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• China news
• Steel worker
• Protest
• Mass arrest
• Jilin Province
• Tonghua
• Chen Guojun

[1997zc]

Sadly I come from the very city of Tonghua :o

In the meantime let me turn on my tv and enjoy capitalism.

[hujintaomustresign3]

yes, down with Capitalists crooks!

Good job Chinese people!

[HumanRightsVideosT]

One party rule and corruption is the problem in China.

FREE the World from one party rule

[nicksakell]

thats the way workers should treat their bosses all over the world !!! resistance to capitalism !!!!

[TheMightyGuri]

FREEDOM FOR CHINA!!

NO MORE CCP!!

[HumanRightsVideosT]

This incident reminds me of the 1959 uprising against the Chinese occupation in Tibet. But the difference is that in 2009 the communist party can no longer get away with firing hundreds of artillery shells towards a crowd.

People power will defeat the communist party in China. One thing that is not in short supply in China is people. And Chinese in China have had enough of the stupid communist party cult.

China WILL be FREE !!!