Independent unions ‘strike’ a blow for democracy in Hong Kong

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As unprecedented pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue on the same day that China marks its 65th National Day, thousands of workers have taken heed of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions’ (HKCTU) call to strike.

According to the latest HKCTU figures, some 10,000 workers across all sectors have downed tools.

The protests originally began as a classroom boycott led by the Hong Kong Federation of Students against the recent announcement of Beijing’s refusal to hold free and fair elections in 2017.

But since Sunday, the students have joined forces with the Occupy Central movement to create mass civil disobedience after protesting students were cordoned off by riot police and attacked with pepper spray and tear gas – an act described by the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (HKPTU) as “brutal”.

In response, workers wearing yellow ribbons and people from all sections of society have joined the protests to express their dismay over everything from dramatic inequality in what is one of the world’s biggest financial hubs to the lack of decent housing.

On Monday, HKCTU released a statement to call on “all workers in Hong Kong” to go on strike with the following demands: the immediate release of all arrested demonstrators; an end to the suppression of peaceful assembly; genuine political reform; and the resignation of Hong Kong’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

“Twenty-one affiliates have signed the petition we created and called for their members to take part in the strike,” said the HKCTU’s Mung Siu-tat in an interview with Equal Times.

“There are many fundamental labour rights that have been rejected by the Chief Executive and the legislative council, such as working time regulations.”

The 31 August announcement that candidates for the position of the new Chief Executive in 2017 will be selected Beijing was the last straw.

“We have to pursue universal suffrage in order to protect the livelihood of the workers."

Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP) agrees. He told Equal Times that “the Hong Kong government must restart the consultation of political reform.

“Workers have been demanding a fair election system to rectify the longstanding problem of the business-leaning government.”

 

Solidarity

Upon the release of the HKCTU statement, a number of independent trade unions such as the Union of Hong Kong Dockers – which won an important strike victory last year following 40-days of industrial action –, the Bar Bending Solidarity Union, and the Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union, have all declared their support.

In addition, thousands of trade unions from around the world have sent messages of support and signed an online petition calling for democracy in Hong Kong.

Swire Beverages, which bottles and distributes Coca-Cola products, is the largest soft drinks manufacturer in Hong Kong and the Swire Beverages (Hong Kong) Employees General Union was amongst the first trade unions to respond to HKCTU’s call.

On Monday, about 200 workers sat outside the factory and 40 representatives were sent to join the protests.

Teachers in Hong Kong have also shown support for what is being termed as the “Umbrella Revolution” by either joining strike action or supporting it.

“Teachers have decided to go on strike either because they want to support the student protestors or to show their discontent towards the political system,” said Chan who teaches at a local secondary school in Hong Kong.

Bus drivers and car drivers across the island have deliberately parked their vehicles in the protest areas to serve as road blocks to protect protestors from police.

And lawyers have been offering free legal advice to those who have been arrested.

Meanwhile, young people have been handing out food, drinks, towels and umbrellas at supply stations piled with boxes of plastic wrap, goggles and face masks in case of more tear gas and pepper spray attacks from the police.