Comments on: The Chinese Unionise Wal-Mart 2006 http://chriswhiteonline.org/2008/09/the-chinese-unionise-wal-mart-2006/ Blogging from a life-long unionist Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:41:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Patrick Poon http://chriswhiteonline.org/2008/09/the-chinese-unionise-wal-mart-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Patrick Poon Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:19:42 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=46#comment-23 A well-written article. The "Wal-Mart unionization" in China is obviously a spin campaign of the ACFTU. Except from the ACFTU official, have you got any comments from the Chinese workers of the Wal-Mart branches in mainland China. I mean not the ones arranged by the ACFTU. It's arguable how the Chinese workers were involved in the "unionization process". Apart from the official reports which certainly credit the "unionization" in the Wal-Mart branches, what have you heard from the workers themselves? I wonder why so many foreign unions and western labour academics have surrendered to China's top-down "unionization". How can we be sure how effective the Wal-mart unions are? Does the so-called "successful top-down unionization experience" in Wal-mart branches in mainland China mean that "bottom-up" process by workers would be less effective? Why do we believe in the government-backed and government-appointed "trade union officials" but not the workers? If we surrender ourselves to this principle, why do we still a union? What does a union mean? Doesn't it originally mean to be an organisation voluntarily founded by workers themselves? A well-written article. The “Wal-Mart unionization” in China is obviously a spin campaign of the ACFTU. Except from the ACFTU official, have you got any comments from the Chinese workers of the Wal-Mart branches in mainland China. I mean not the ones arranged by the ACFTU. It’s arguable how the Chinese workers were involved in the “unionization process”. Apart from the official reports which certainly credit the “unionization” in the Wal-Mart branches, what have you heard from the workers themselves? I wonder why so many foreign unions and western labour academics have surrendered to China’s top-down “unionization”. How can we be sure how effective the Wal-mart unions are? Does the so-called “successful top-down unionization experience” in Wal-mart branches in mainland China mean that “bottom-up” process by workers would be less effective? Why do we believe in the government-backed and government-appointed “trade union officials” but not the workers? If we surrender ourselves to this principle, why do we still a union? What does a union mean? Doesn’t it originally mean to be an organisation voluntarily founded by workers themselves?

]]> By: chriswhite http://chriswhiteonline.org/2008/09/the-chinese-unionise-wal-mart-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-21 chriswhite Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:36:42 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=46#comment-21 I am to put up my may 2008 update soon on their labour laws, and touch on this with a report from Anita Chan when she was in the US recently, but do not cover these latest Wal-Mart developments in that paper. Yes I follow the public story in CLNT. At one time unionising Wal-Mart was seen as fundamental, although I was accused of promoting the ACFTU -and yes I was reporting their story. It seems Wal-Mart management accepted unionism but worked to undermine its working - meetings, votes, who are the chairs and reps, what are their rights etc and battles are on these issues; overtime it seems that in different ways (and in including the net) organising on the job in a traditional active unionist way; then... These developments, setbacks, struggles are important and part of what is happening with Chinese workers and unionism and corporate responses. Interesting times...what will also be interesting is to see the impact of the US financial crisis on Chinese workers organising. I am to put up my may 2008 update soon on their labour laws, and touch on this with a report from Anita Chan when she was in the US recently, but do not cover these latest Wal-Mart developments in that paper.

Yes I follow the public story in CLNT. At one time unionising Wal-Mart was seen as fundamental, although I was accused of promoting the ACFTU -and yes I was reporting their story. It seems Wal-Mart management accepted unionism but worked to undermine its working – meetings, votes, who are the chairs and reps, what are their rights etc and battles are on these issues; overtime it seems that in different ways (and in including the net) organising on the job in a traditional active unionist way; then…

These developments, setbacks, struggles are important and part of what is happening with Chinese workers and unionism and corporate responses. Interesting times…what will also be interesting is to see the impact of the US financial crisis on Chinese workers organising.

]]> By: Paul Garver http://chriswhiteonline.org/2008/09/the-chinese-unionise-wal-mart-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Paul Garver Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:14:37 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=46#comment-19 Chris, I just came across your interesting background article. I was wondering what you think of the latest developments at Wal-Mart China (resignation of worker chairperson Gao Haitao from the Nanchang Bayi store). I used CLNT translation of article in Nanchang newspaper Southern Weekend at http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/is-union-reform-possible-in-china/ Chris,

I just came across your interesting background article. I was wondering what you think of the latest developments at Wal-Mart China (resignation of worker chairperson Gao Haitao from the Nanchang Bayi store). I used CLNT translation of article in Nanchang newspaper Southern Weekend at http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/is-union-reform-possible-in-china/

]]> By: francis kelly http://chriswhiteonline.org/2008/09/the-chinese-unionise-wal-mart-2006/comment-page-1/#comment-5 francis kelly Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:24:52 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=46#comment-5 from little things big things grow from little things big things grow

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