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The Challenge of Labour in China: Strikes and the Changing Labour Regime in Global Factories

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The Challenge of Labour in China: Strikes and the Changing Labour Regime in Global Factories The Challenge of Labour in China: Strikes and the Changing Labour Regime in Global Factories By Chris King-Chi Chan A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology Department of Sociology University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL United Kingdom July 2008 Table of Contents Table of Contents---------------------------------------------------------1 Abbreviations------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Illustrations --------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Acknowledgements-------------------------------------------------------8 Declaration--------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Abstract-------------------------------------------------------------------12 Chapter One------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Introduction: Globalisation and Chinese Migrant Workers Chapter Two-------------------------------------------------------------33 Searching for the New Working Class: Theory and Methods Chapter Three-----------------------------------------------------------86 Labour Conflict in Shen Zhen: a Historical Review Chapter Four-----------------------------------------------------------136 Community and Shop Floor Culture: a Prelude to Workers’ Protest Chapter Five------------------------------------------------------------202 Strikes and Changing Power Relations in the Workplace Chapter Six-------------------------------------------------------------281 Workplace Conflict, Legal Institution, and Labour Regime 2 Chapter Seven---------------------------------------------------------324 International Civil Society, Chinese Trade Unionism, and Workplace Representation Chapter Eight---------------------------------------------------------359 Conclusion: Workers’ Struggle and the Changing Labour Regime in China Bibliography-----------------------------------------------------------384 3 Abbreviations ACFTU: All China Federation of Trade Unions AMRC: Asia Monitor Research Centre CCP: Chinese Communist Party CLB: China Labour Bulletin CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility CWWN: Chinese Working Women Network FDI: Foreign Direct Investment FIE: Foreign Invested Enterprise FOA: Freedom of Association GM: General Manager ILO: International Labour Organization IT: Information Technology JV: Sino-overseas Joint Ventures LSSB: Labour and Social Security Bureau MOLSS: Ministry of Labour and Social Security MSI: Multi-stakeholder Initiative NIC: Newly Industrialized Country NGO: Non-governmental Organisation OHS: Occupational Health and Safety POE: Privately Owned Enterprise PRD: Pearl River Delta QC: Quality Control 4 R&D: Research and Development SCRO: State Council Research Office SEZ: Special Economic Zone SKIZ: She Kou Industrial Zone SKIZFTU: She Kou Industrial Zone Federation of Trade Unions SOE: State Owned Enterprise SZMFTU: Shen Zhen Municipal Federation of Trade Unions SZMLSSB: Shen Zhen Municipal Labour and Social Security Bureau TNC: Transnational Corporations TVE: Township or Village Enterprise UCE: Urban Collective-owned Enterprise WTO: World Trade Organization YRD: Yangtze River Delta ZHMFTU: Zhu Hai Municipal Federation of Trade Unions 5 Illustrations Tables: Table I: Foreign Direct Investment in China, 1990-2004. (Page 96) Table II: Reported Labour Protests of FIE Workers in the PRD from 1993 to 1994. (Page 108) Table III: Arbitrated Labour Disputes in China: 1993-2004. (Page 119) Table IV: Workers’ Collective Action reported in the PRD from 2002 to 2005. (Page: 125) Table V: Reported Causes of Collective Actions in the PRD. (Page: 126) Table VI: Size, Gender and Original-place Attributes of Different Departments in the Sun Factory. (Page: 172) Table VII: The Level of the Legal Minimum Wage Rate in Shen Zhen. (Page: 285) Map: An Illustrated Map of Shen Zhen (Page: 91) 6 Others: A Signature Petition Letter to the Top Management in the Moon Factory. (Translation) (Page: 296) A Public Letter Posted out in the Workshops before a Strike in the Moon Factory. (Extract) (Translation) (Page: 298) A Pamphlet Circulated during a Strike in the Moon Factory. (Translation) (Page: 305) A Letter Posted on an Internet Forum Expressing Workers’ Grievances. (Translation) (Page: 308) 7 Acknowledgements I am indebted to many teachers, friends, informants and institutions to finish this research. This thesis could not be completed on time without the persistent guidance, encouragement, friendship and help from my supervisor Prof. Simon Clarke. Working with Simon is among the most enjoyable moments of my study life. Gratitude is extended to my friend Tim Pringle who I worked together with under the ESRC non-public action project headed by Simon; to Prof. Tony Elger and Prof. Annie Phizacklea, my teachers, who inspired my further exploration in sociology of work and labour studies during my MA studies at Warwick; and to other Warwick teachers in the research method courses. Warwick postgraduate research training is unique as it is a collective project that department members contributed their different expertise. Prof. Michael Burawoy from UC Berkeley gave inspiring and encouraging discussions in my research seminar held by Warwick IRRU and CCLS. The University of Warwick generously granted me Warwick Postgraduate Research Fellowship, Oversea Student Research Awards and the departmental bursary so that I can finish the project without financial burden. Much of the thesis was written with the library facilities of the University of Birmingham where I lived. The walking path along the Midland industrial canals stimulated lots of ideas. I would not have enjoyed my life in England so much without the accompany of colleagues and friends, including but not exclusively Yubin, Huamei, Waiha, Elizabeth, Rosario, Rodrigo, Sole, Claudio, Olya, Nico, Cheng, Jeremy, Jacky, Charlene, Darren, Suki, 8 Anita, Albert, Anne Barrett, Prof. Ann Davis and Alex. I also want to thank Ed Shepherd for his meticulous proofread of this thesis. I am especially grateful to my many friends in Hong Kong and Guang Dong. Dr. C. H. Ng, Elizabeth Tang and Lee Chuk Yan helped me to embark my study at Warwick. Dr. Pun Ngai, Dr. Y. C. Chen, Parry, Jenny, Suet Wah, Mei, Vivien, Ng, Jane, Sophia, Yau, and many others in the CWWN and SACOM offered me friendship, kind assistance and insightful discussions during and beyond my fieldwork. I am especially benefited from the China labour studies seminars organized by Pun Ngai and joined by many other friends. Pun Ngai continued to provide critical comments on some of my works. My friends in HKCTU, GM, LESN, AMRC, HKCIC, CLSN, IHLO, CLB, WE, and CLA, especially Yingyu, Sosheung, Au, May, Juliana, Pingkwan, Apo, Monina, Ling, April, Tat, Yin, Shan, Yuk Yuk, were very helpful in sharing me with important information, suggestions and reflections during this research. Prior to this project, I learned much from my colleagues in HKCTU who engaged deeply in the labour movement. My deepest tribute is directed to my anonymous friends and informants in Shen Zhen. In particular, the struggle experiences of the workers and their brave pursuit of justice always inspired and encouraged me on my intellectual exploration and praxis. This thesis is dedicated to them. I would like to express my love and gratitude to my family in this occasion. The love from my great grandmother who passed away in 1981 always encouraged me in 9 every important moment of my life. My parents work hard to go through the difficult times and provide me with infinite love and care. I also have to thank my brother and sister-in-law for their care of our parents when I was away for study; my grandparents, aunts and uncle for their encouragement over the years; and my parents-in-law for taking care of me in Hong Kong. My deepest love is dedicated to Lynn, my wife, for her unlimited spiritual, intellectual, emotional and practical support in our life. Without Lynn’s support, I would not embark this challenging but pleasurable journey of PhD study. 10 Declaration This thesis represents my own work, except where due acknowledgement is made. Part of the materials that constituted my dissertation for a MA in Comparative Labour Studies in this department (2005) has been used in chapter three of this thesis as indicated. Otherwise, this thesis has not been previously submitted to any institutions for a degree or other qualifications. Signed:_____________________ Chris King-Chi Chan 11 Abstract China has become a global manufacturing centre with its ‘unlimited’ supply of low cost and unorganised peasant workers. The potential of Chinese workers to change this condition has significant meaning for global labour politics. This study offers an ethnographic portrait and a sociological account of the transformation of labour relations and labour politics in China from 2004 to 2008 focusing on workers’ strikes, community and organisation. It reveals how wages and working conditions are bargained, fought over, and determined in the global factories. Geographically this study concerns the city of Shenzhen, China’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where labour conflict is most prevalent. Historically, it is traced back to the late 1970s to explore how the pattern of labour conflict has changed over time. The author spent one year conducting participant observation based in a grass-roots labour non-governmental organisation (NGO) in an industrial zone from 2005 to 2006. A multi-case method is used to document workers’ stories to strive for a higher
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