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

Setting Parties HRM System

Work System

Lessons for

CanadaQuestions

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 workersMigrant 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