News

Nearly 800 women workers at Gold East Paper Co., Ltd. in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu China went on strike on 15 October.  

The dispute was triggered when the workers got no pay increase while a group of their colleagues were benefited. The workers asked an explanation, a nonsence excuse was given by HR Manager as the demanding workers’ jobs were outsourced and they are not the workers of the company anymore but they are the workers of the agency. Then they responded the protests with humiliation as saying “shut up or sod off!”

Which was the last straw for the workers to mobilise. “We will not go without putting up a fight. If the company wants to fire us they will have to pay the price.”

The workers first staged a peaceful sit-in at the factory gate with a banner: “Sisters, let’s stand together and safeguard our rights!.” Police were called in and clashes led several injuries, with at least five hospitalised. Then the workers later took their protest to the streets. As of Friday evening, the workers were still on strike.