Support Honda Workers in Foshan China
Support Honda Workers in Foshan China
(For Chinese version, see below.)
To all those who are concerned with workers in China:
On May 17, 2010, more than 1800 Honda workers in Foshan decided to go on strike. By May 27, all four Honda plants in China had stopped production.
Why did the workers go on strike? It is because their wages are too low and their conditions are harsh! Formal workers at Honda in Foshan take home 1200 yuan (US$175) a month on average, while intern workers, 80% of its workforce, earn as little as 900 yuan (US$131) a month. Intern workers are students from technical schools who are not protected by the national Labor Contract Law, because they work for Honda under an internship contract. They are given a wage below the local minimum and are not covered by social insurance. What can Honda workers do with the little wages they get, at a time where prices for everyday goods are getting more and more expensive? They have little left, apart from covering their basic necessities. Can they hope to take root in the city? No. Can they work with dignity? No. They cannot afford housing, medical care, child rearing, or to look after their parents. With high inflation, it is difficult for them to take care of their own livelihood.
With all these difficulties, they have reported their situation to management through internal channels, but have been ignored. Their report disappears like a stone in the sea. Thus they are forced to go on strike. They demand a pay raise to 2000-2500 yuan. This is a very reasonable demand, as this was only about the average wage level in Foshan three years ago.
During the strike, they hoped that the company would take their views seriously and alleviate their current difficulties. But what did they get as a response? They met with threats and ridicule and a plot to divide the workers. The company said they would respond in a week. What did the company do in the meantime? The company threatened them: whoever does not return to work will be fired. The company picked out the strike leaders and fired them. The company also threatened all intern workers that if they did not return to work, they will not get their diploma for graduation. This is what Honda did in the interim. On May 24, the company responded that they will provide 55 yuan food subsidy to each worker. What a mockery they made of workers’ demand! Workers are not beggars! Facing Honda’s response, which clearly lacked sincerity, workers were angry and decided to continue their strike.
On May 26, Honda rolled out a proposal to divide the workers: 477 yuan raise for intern workers and 355 yuan raise for formal workers. They hoped to tempt intern workers to return to work and thus “divide and rule.”
What surprised Honda is the unity demonstrated by workers. On May 27, workers counter-proposed 800 yuan raise for all, with no discrimination. Yet Honda did not learn its lesson, but played the “divide and rule” game again: 634 yuan for intern workers after three months and 355 yuan for formal workers. At the same time, Honda exerted more pressure on intern workers and required them to sign a “no strike” commitment before 9 am, May 31. The company also brought local officials and teachers of technical schools to force intern workers to return to work before May 31. Honda had promised that they would address the problem with a positive attitude. Look at what happened. This is what Honda called a positive attitude.
Struggling for survival and for dignity, Honda workers are forced to go on strike. But Honda had no sincere intention to solve the problems; it continuously tried to divide the workers and mobilized others to exert pressure on them. At present, workers have agreed to return to work for three days and allow the management time (before Friday) to respond to their demands. Now is the critical time for the workers’ struggle. Therefore, we appeal to all Honda workers, all worker brothers and sisters, people in China who are concerned with workers, and people in the world who are concerned with workers, to support the struggles of Honda workers in Foshan!
It is because their struggles are reasonable and just. They resist the oppression of their exploiters and they fight for a dignified life for all workers.
Let us unite and exert pressure on Honda. We want to tell Honda: stop all your efforts to divide and suppress workers and meet workers’ demands.
We most sincerely salute the courageous Honda workers!
Contact: [email protected]
Initiators:
Editors of Chinese Workers Research Network
Dr. Yan Hairong (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Dr. Alvin So (Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Dr. Szeto May (University of Hong Kong)
Wong Kai Hing (President of The Hong Kong Polytechinc University Students’ Union)
Dr. Chan Kingchi (City University of Hong Kong)
Dong Xulin (Retiree from the United Nations)
Dr. Du Jiping (Taiwan, editor of Pipan yu zaizao)
Dr. Chen Yunzhong (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Dr. Barry Sautman (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Dr. Tong Xiaoxi (Chinese University of Agriculture)
Dr. Fumie Ohashi (JSPS research fellow)
Signers:
Dr. Wang Hui (Professor, Qinghua University)
Dr. Dong Qingyuan (Engineer in USA)
Dr. Fang Mou (Scientist, USA)
Dr. Ma Yaobang (Writer, Canada)
Wu Jianbing (Poet, USA)
Peng Zhaochang (University of Massachusetts)
Liu Shenyu （Scholar/Writer, USA）
Luo Chiyun (Retired Engineer)
Dr. Ching Pao-yu (Professor Emeritus, Marygrove University)
Dr. Bai Di (Drew University)
Dr. Wang Dan (Hong Kong University)
Dr. Chen I-Chung (Academia Sinica, Taiwan)
Dr. Anita Chan (Professor, Sydney University of Technology)
Dr. Chen Kuan-Hsing (Professor, Qinghua University, Taiwan)
Zha Jianying (Writer, the China representative of India-China Institute)
Liang Xiaoyan (Chief Secretary of Beijing Western Sunshine Rural Development Foundation)
Chung Ming Lai (Labour Action China)
Zhan Yang (Ph.D. student at Binghamton University)
Dr. Wang Xiaoming （Professor, Shanghai University）
Dr. Zhang Lianhong (Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)
Dr. Gu Jinghua （Hong Kong Polytechnic University）
Dr. Sun Dacheng (SUNY Binghamton, Emeritus Professor)
Du Guang （Professor, Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP）
Shi Xiaoyu (Scholar of the People’s Livelihood）
He Zhijun (University of Technology Department of Applied Social Science, Professor)
Zhong Xiumei （National Cheng Kung University, Taiwanese Institute, Assistant Professor）
Alexander Day (Assistant Professor of History, Wayne State University)
Greg King (SEIU, Local 888, Boston, MA, USA)
Stephen Philion (Associate Professor, St. Cloud State University)
Gao Mobo （The University of Adelaide，Professor and Director, Confucius Institute）
Daniel F. Vukovich (University of Hong Kong)
Tani E. Barlow (Professor of History, Rice University)
Marc Blecher (Professor, Oberlin College)
Dr. Hu Jiaming (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
宫德顺，退休工人，大连
左大培博士（社科院）
孙寿慧（江苏教师）
Joan Hinton
靳大成 （中国社会科学院文学研究所文艺理论研究室）
邹德宇 （转业军官）
Lee Feigon
Robert Weil (Retired Labor Organizer and Lecturer UC Santa Cruz)
John Sexton (journalist)
Ralph Litzinger (professor, Duke University)
Matt Hale (University of Washington, Ph.D candidate)
Joel Andreas (Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University)
Raymond Lotta (Author, Political Economist)
Jackson Turner （Independent Writer, Historian）
徐启轩（哥伦比亚大学博士生）
Andrew Ross (Professor, New York University)
Steve Louie
More…
The translator is not sure how to Romanize names of many signers from Taiwan. Not wanting to make mistakes in rendering their names, the translator apologize for not including them here. Please check the Chinese version for a fuller list of the signers.
声援中国佛山本田工人行动呼吁信
所有关注中国工人状况的朋友们：
2010年5月17日，广东佛山本田1800多名工人在忍无可忍的情况下，愤然罢工。到27日，本田在中国的所有四家工厂已全部停产。
他们为什么罢工？因为他们的工资太低了，他们的生活太苦了，佛山本田正式工人每月到手的工资平均下来只有1200元，高达8成的实习工人的工资更是低至每月900元。实习工人是技校未毕业的实习生，由于他们和公司签订的是实习合同，不受《劳动法》保障，工资低于最低工资水平，也没有购买任何社会保险。这点钱，在物价飞涨的今天，又能干点什么呢！除了基本的日用之外，所剩无几。他们希望能在城市里面落脚生根，行吗？不行！他们希望能“体面的劳动”，行吗？也不行！他们买不起房，看不起病，抚养不起小孩，也赡养不起父母。看看今天的通货膨胀，他们甚至连自己的生活都难以保障。
实在生活不下去了，他们开始通过内部的渠道向上面反映困难，但是管理层置之不理，意见石沉大海。忍无可忍之下，本田的工人被迫罢工。他们提出加薪至2000-2500元，这是一个非常合理的要求，这一标准也仅相当于三年前佛山市在岗职工的平均工资水平。
罢工之后，他们希望公司能认真的倾听意见，切实的解决他们的困难。但他们得到的是什么呢？得到的是威胁、嘲弄，还有公司分裂他们的阴谋。公司告诉他们，一周之后解决问题。然而在此期间，公司做了什么呢？公司威胁他们，谁不上工就开除谁；公司找出了带头的工友，把他们开除；公司还威胁所有的实习生，要是他们不上工，就不给他们发毕业证。这就是本田在这一周干的事情！ 5月24日，公司的解决方案出来了，每个人加伙食津贴55元。真是天大的嘲弄！工人们不是要饭的乞丐！面对本田毫无诚意的方案，愤怒的工友们决定继续罢工。
5月26日，本田提出了一个分化工人的方案，实习生增加工资477元，正式员工增加355元。他们希望通过这个方案分化罢工的工人，诱骗实习生上岗，然后分而治之。
让本田没想到的是，工友们异常的团结，在5月27号提出，所有工人一律加薪800元，绝不能区别对待。然而本田并没有接受这次教训，他们变本加厉，于28日再一次提出了分化的方案：实习生的工资在第三个月起增加634元，正式员工维持加薪355元。同时，本田进一步向实习生单独施加压力，要求他们在5月31日上午9时之前签署不罢工“承诺书”，而其还把实习生的在校老师和地方政府官员叫过来，强迫他们31号之前上班。本田曾经承诺要以积极的态度面对问题，要带着诚意去解决问题。看看吧，这就是本田所谓的态度和诚意。
拿着微薄的工资，在生存的底线上挣扎徘徊，本田工人为了生存、为了有尊严的活下去，才被迫采取了罢工。然而，本田确没有丝毫解决他们困难的诚意，反而不断的分化他们，调动各种关系打压他们。目前，工人答应暂时复工三天，要求厂方三天内（星期五前）回应工人们的诉求。现在，已经到了本田工人罢工最关键的时刻，因此，我们呼吁：
所有本田的工友们，支持佛山本田工友们的斗争！
所有的工人兄弟姐妹们，支持佛山本田工友们的斗争！
所有中国的关心工人现状的人们，支持佛山本田工友们的斗争！
全世界所有关心中国工人状况的朋友们，支持佛山本田工友们的斗争！
因为，他们的斗争是合理的、正义的，他们在反抗着剥削者的压迫，他们在为所有的劳动者争取有尊严的生活！
让我们团结起来，向本田公司施加压力，我们要告诉本田：停止一切对工人的分化和打压，公开的答应工人的合理要求。
向勇敢的本田工友们致以最诚挚的敬意！
联系方法：[email protected]
发起人：
《中国工人研究网》全體編輯
严海蓉博士 （香港理工大学）
蘇耀昌教授 （香港大技大學教授）
司徒薇博士 （香港大學）
黃佳鑫 （香港理工大學學生會會長）
陈敬慈博士（香港城市大学）
董叙霖 （联合国退休人员）
杜继平博士（台湾，原《批判与再造》主编）
陈允中博士（香港科技大学）
沙伯力博士（香港科技大学）
童小溪博士（中国农业大学）
大橋史恵（日本学術振興会特別研究員）
聯署人：
汪晖博士（清华大学教授）
柏棣博士 （美国德儒大学）
董庆圆博士（旅美工程师）
方谋博士（旅美科学工作者）
马耀邦 （旅加拿大华人作家）
吴建斌 （旅美诗人）
彭昭昌 （旅美学者/麻州大学经济系）
刘申余 （旅美学者/自由撰稿人）
罗其云 （软件工作者）
金宝瑜（美国Marygrove 大学退休荣誉教授）
邱士杰 (台湾大学 历史学研究所博士生)
徐进钰（台湾大学 地理环境资源学系教授）
曾建元（台湾 中华大学行政管理学系 副教授）
张星戈（台湾 世新大学讲师）
陈信行（台湾 世新大学社会发展研究所副教授）
房怡谅（台湾 世新大学社会发展研究所硕士生）
关晓荣 （台湾 台南艺术大学教授）
林子文（台湾 自主工联荣誉会长）
蓝博洲（台湾 人间出版社社长）
关晨引（台湾 差事剧团 团员）
宗田昌人（台湾大学城乡研究所博士候选人）
黃國治（《台灣立報》專欄作家）
范振國（台灣 人間出版社常務編輯）
鍾 喬（台灣 差 事劇團 團長）
陈佩华 （悉尼科技大学教授）
萧裕均 （澳洲国立大学博士研究生）
李峻嶸 （香港教育學院社會科學系專任導師）
查建英 （著名作家、印度中国研究所中国代表）
梁晓燕 （北京市西部阳光农村发展基金会秘书长）
陈光兴 （台湾清华大学外文系教授）
梁文道 （文化人）
张铁志 （哥伦比亚大学政治学博士候选人）
张翠容 （香港资深新闻工作者）
陈美玲 （前乐施会项目官员）
Chung Ming Lai (Labour Action China)
陳宜中 (台灣, 中央研究院)
王丹 博士（女） （香港大学）
战洋 （纽约州立大学宾厄姆顿分校博士生）
王晓明博士（上海大学教授）
张炼红博士 (上海社会科学院)
顾静华博士（香港理工大学）
孫大成 博士(美國紐約州立大學賓漢頓分校退休教授)
杜 光 （中央党校教授 ）
施晓渝（ 民生经济学者）
何芝君 (理工大學應用社會科學系副教授)
鍾秀梅（台灣 成功大學台文所助理教授）
Alexander Day, Assistant Professor, Wayne State Univeristy.
Greg King, SEIU, Local 888, Boston, MA, USA
Stephen Philion, Associate Professor, St. Cloud State University
高默波（澳大利亚阿德莱大学教授，孔子学院院长）
Daniel F. Vukovich (University of Hong Kong)
Tani E. Barlow (Professor of History, Rice University)
Marc Blecher (Professor, Oberlin College)
胡嘉明博士（香港理工大學）
宫德顺，退休工人，大连
左大培博士（社科院）
孙寿慧（江苏教师）
Joan Hinton
靳大成 （中国社会科学院文学研究所文艺理论研究室）
邹德宇 （转业军官）
Lee Feigon
Robert Weil (Retired Labor Organizer and Lecturer UC Santa Cruz)
John Sexton (journalist)
Ralph Litzinger (professor, Duke University)
Matt Hale (University of Washington, Ph.D candidate)
Joel Andreas (Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University)
Raymond Lotta (Author, Political Economist)
Jackson Turner （Independent Writer, Historian）
徐启轩（哥伦比亚大学博士生）
Andrew Ross (Professor, New York University)
Steve Louie
聯署繼續中，如果有人想支持，可以上這裡網上聯署：http://gopetition.com/online/36847.html