(Broadcast on 16 March, 2002)
Since 1 March, workers who previously signed severance agreements with the Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau (DPAB) have been gathering in Daqing's Iron Man Square. Today is the 15th day of the protests during which the workers have denounced both the government and the DPAB for deliberately not providing them with all the relevant information when more than 80,000 workers were cheated into signing severance agreements with the bureau. The following is a telephone conversation with a cadre from the DPAB:
DPAB Cadre:
I have not been here recently so I am not too clear on events.
Han:
Have they been protesting today?
DPAB Cadre:
Yes, it looks it.
Han:
And are there still as many people there?
DPAB Cadre:
Doesn't look like there's so many.
Han:
Have the workers sent out any representatives?
DPAB Cadre:
I am not too sure.
A cadre from the trade union told me that up to now the union hasn't intervened on behalf of the workers and the workers' own representatives have not sought out the trade union.
Trade Union Cadre:
Generally speaking, we haven't played a part in this matter. As for the actual situation, how many workers are taking part and what the current circumstances are, I will give you the telephone number of the Complaints Office, ok?
Han:
So far, our union hasn't intervened?
Trade Union Cadre:
We haven't played any role. The DPAB management have been making all the arrangements and not asked us to take part. We have not been able to say or do anything. You're asking us where we stand on the matter, but the workers themselves have opted for direct talks with the DPAB leaders.
Han:
Have the workers already chosen representatives?
Trade Union Cadre:
There have already been talks with the representatives.
He then told me about the demands that the workers had put forward.
Trade Union Cadre:
Including a return to their original job and for the older ones, a regular retirement [package]. I am afraid that the DPAB is not going to agree to their demands as this is a matter with implications for the whole country. China has so many oilfields and if they make concessions [here] then they will be inundated with a flood of demands [from other oilfields]. What will the other oilfields do then? There are people down here from the company headquarters in Beijing who are currently discussing how best to deal with this situation.
On 4 and 5 March, the number of oil workers taking part in the protests reached 50,000. Moreover, over 2,000 workers at the Huabei Oilfield [in Hebei province] who have also signed severance agreements, followed the example of Daqing workers and demonstrated in front of their own Petroleum Administration Bureau demanding the right to medical insurance. With the protests in Daqing already into their 15th consecutive day, what is the situation at Huabei Oilfield? Please listen to the following interview with a cadre from the Complaints Office of the Huabei Petroleum Administration Bureau.
Cadre:
Right now each work unit is actively carrying out educational work and publicising company policy. They have mobilised cadres at all levels, not just those at the basic level.
Han:
How is this work going?
Cadre:
Of course, it has not been easy but things have much smoother over the last few days.
Han:
Looking at the worst case scenario, have you ruled out the possibility of things flaring up again?
Cadre:
It can't be ruled out. We are taking this very seriously, as there are implications for so many other oilfields. If we get it wrong there could be a chain reaction.
Han:
Do you think that could happen?
Cadre:
Of course.
The complaints office cadre also talked about whether the collective demonstrations at Daqing and the Huabei Oilfield should be reported in the media.
Cadre:
The more remote oilfields probably haven't heard about it. Once these things are openly publicised, then everyone will no doubt get to know about it.
Han:
You're saying the truth will come out anyway?
Cadre:
That's another matter altogether.
On 14 March, the China Working Party of the Committee on Human and Trade Union Rights of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) held its first meeting in Hong Kong. The meeting took place against the background of increasing levels of organisation and collective struggle by Chinese workers and discussed how the ICFTU can provide support. The meeting concluded on 15 March and released two letters, one to President Jiang Zemin and the other to All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) chairperson Wei Jianxing. The General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) and Hong Kong legislature member, Lee Cheuk-yan, hosted the meeting. Please listen to his explanation of how the ICFTU will support Chinese workers in future.
Lee:
The meeting decided that the ICFTU would write to the Chinese government in support of Daqing oil workers and demand that the government immediately respond to their demands. Of course, the Hong Kong trade unions will also support this action and write to President Jiang Zemin on behalf of Hong Kong unions to express our concern. Moreover, the ICFTU itself will mobilise more than 140 affiliates to write letters expressing support for the Daqing oil workers. If we can find out more about the situation in Daqing, then we can put more pressure on the ICFTU to mobilise their members for support. This support can come in many forms. In the case of this meeting, we had the positive result of expressing future support for the struggle(s) undertaken by Chinese workers themselves. So the more information we have, the more Hong Kong trade unions can pass on this information and facilitate greater action from the ICFTU.
It its letter to ACFTU chairperson Wei Jianxing, the ICFTU wrote: 'We look forward to your positive reaction to these issues and express the hope that your organization will want to assist the workers concerned in their endeavour to collectively defend their rights and interests'. In their letter to President Jiang Zemin, the ICFTU expressed its concern over the situation of 50,000 oil workers in Daqing, and pointed out that,'[s]ending armed personnel is not an appropriate method of negotiating the social consequences of economic restructuring. These must be discussed and agreed upon with legitimate, representative workers' organizations. The establishment by workers of organizations of their own choosing for the protection of their economic and social interests is an internationally recognized human right, guaranteed by Convention no. 87 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), of which your Government is furthermore a Governing Body Member. This right is also protected under the Trade Union Law of the People's Republic of China, 2001. We thus call upon your Government to respect the decision of the Daqing Oilfields workers to exercise this right and to engage with them to address their legitimate demands. On the basis of the above, we urge you, Mr. President, to take the necessary measures in order that the relevant department of your administration be instructed to enter into immediate negotiations with the workers concerned. We must further indicate that any repressive measures by the authorities against the members and leaders of the Daqing PAB Retrenched Workers' Provisional Union Committee would result in the immediate submission of a complaint by the ICFTU to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association'.
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