(Broadcast on Sept 14, 2002)
According to online sources in China, retrenched oil workers at Chongqing-based Chuandong Oil Exploration & Drilling Company (COEDC), a subsidiary of Sichuan Petroleum Administrative Bureau (Sichuan PAB), spontaneously organised themselves in defence of their rights to unemployment allowances, adjustments in pension premiums and job placement for retrenched young workers. They proposed these demands to the leaders of the company, yet no satisfactory arrangement has been achieved. For two weeks, several hundred retrenched workers have met daily at the main gate of COEDC to protest. A retrenched teacher described to CLB the actions of the workers on the phone.
Teacher:
If you walk in from COEDC's main gate, you can see it [the banner].
Han Dongfang [Han]:
COEDC?
Teacher:
Its main gate.
Han:
Behind the main gate?
Teacher:
Yeah. Behind the main gate. But anyway it is taken down after working hours. [Retrenched workers] put the banner up when working hours start and take it down after working hours.
Han:
You mean the workers come when COEDC's office opens and leave when it closes?
Teacher:
Yup.
Han:
And this has been occuring since last week?
Teacher:
I think so.
On September 2, oil workers started to raise funds for legal action against COEDC. That morning the emergency unit from Chongqing Public Security Bureau came to the scene, stopped the fundraising activities and attempted to arrest some workers. Their actions outraged the workers and conflict occurred. A retired worker told CLB that after being surrounded by the angry workers, the police released the arrested workers right away and made apologies.
Worker:
At the very beginning, the retrenched workers from our unit joined together to raise fund, in order to sue our company. The fund is for hiring a lawyer. So each of them contributed some, RMB 30, 20, 5, up to them, but the maximum amount was RMB 30. The money was collected to hire a lawyer for legal action. The security guards reported them to the public security bureau, claiming that Falungong members were making trouble outside their office. The local police station sent some police over immediately, took away the fund they raised and arrested two guys. Then they [police and workers] started to argue. The retrenched workers, including the retired workers, surrounded the police for ten, eleven hours. Neither party was willing to budge and they were just stuck there. Eventually the district leader [the public security authorities in Jiangbei District] came over to release the two arrested and apologised to workers.
Han:
How much money did they raise?
Worker:
RMB 20,000 to 30,000. But it has been taken away.
Han:
Didn't they [the police] return it?
Worker:
It was said that the local police station wanted to return it the next day. Then some workers said the whole incident had to be clarified before taking the money back. We didn't ask about it anymore so I don't really know.
Further information CLB obtained confirmed that on September 3, three to four thousand retrenched workers from Meter Repair Factory, Development Company, Drilling & Exploration Company, Well Logging Company and Main Desulphurisation Factory joined the sit-in protest with their banners outside COEDC. A worker told CLB that until September 13, several hundreds of workers continued their sit-in protest outside the main gate of COEDC. He said that their action was inspired and encouraged by the struggle of their fellow workers in Daqing.
Worker:
I went there [COEDC] to have a look this morning. I guess several hundred workers were still there. Their banner hoisted has been signed by the protest workers and some small posters were posted on the wall and notice board. The theme was about how the company cheated them and forced them to sign the retrenchment agreement. They lost their jobs and now they are protesting to have the jobs back for their living.
Han:
Have you heard of the protests of the Daqing workers some time ago?
Worker:
Sure, we knew that ages ago. We heard that there are some internal documents discussing that issue as well. The social impact is that we, ordinary folk and workers, believe the Daqing workers earned back the respect and rights for the working class and we do sincerely support their actions and appreciate their attitude. You know all these years, the workers' situation really upsets us, or disappointed us I would say. I personally believe that without the Daqing workers, we wouldn't have got the idea of protest and developed the courage [to protest]. I haven't found anyone who wanted to give up the protest these days. It is like now they wouldn't give up until they meet the [company] leaders. Of course, police and plainclothes public security personnel come as well every day and the Chongqing Public Security Bureau also pays close attention to this incident.
Han:
But no action taken so far?
Worker:
No, not yet.
Another retired worker gave an account of the tricks COEDC played to dismiss the workers.
Worker:
They didn't put it [signing the retrenchment agreement] as compulsory. But they told them that if they didn't sign it, it would be very likely they would lose their job and all that they could get was some living allowance, this and that...all to cheat the workers. With all kinds of lies and threats.
Han:
When did the [sit-in] start?
Worker:
More than a week ago. They are waiting for the leaders to come out [to talk to them] but so far no sign of any leaders. The workers don't stir up trouble though; they are simply sitting there, outside the office building.
Han:
Do they disturb the operation of COEDC?
Worker:
I don't think so, but the office workers are all back home to do their work at home.
CLB called the office of COEDC. A cadre said that it was the Chongqing Government's business and the company couldn't do anything.
Cadre:
You better ask the Chongqing Municipal Government. It is their business; the whole incident should be handled by the government, not our company.
Han:
Has the problem been solved?
Cadre:
No.
Han:
Are the workers still outside?
Cadre:
I don't know. This incident has something to do with the municipal government. The problem they [the workers] have -- the retrenchment issue -- is actually the state's policy and this kind of problems has existed for years and our company can't really handle all these leftover problems. Therefore the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee, municipal government and the Sichuan Provincial Government met to discuss a solution. You can call the Sichuan PAB or the China National Petroleum Corporation.
CLB called the general office of Sichuan PAB in Chengdu. A cadre told CLB that they had been discussing a solution since the outcry of the workers began. She mentioned that the solution had begun to take shape.
Cadre:
It depends on the Chongqing Municipal Government. Who else should be responsible for the unemployment allowance besides the municipal government? It was the main topic of the petition.
Han:
But has the Chongqing Municipal Government ever distributed the unemployment allowance?
Cadre:
No.
Han:
And are you discussing this with the Chongqing Municipal Government?
Cadre:
Yes. Basically our Wages Department will be taking care of this case, but I don't know which department the Chongqing Municipal Government will send as the representative. But I know that we are working on it and a solution will be drawn up soon.