(Broadcast on November 6, 2002)
Led by Ferroalloy workers, state workers in Liaoyang city demonstrated again in front of the city government offices on November 5 and 6. They were demanding the release of the Liaoyang Four, and the payment of unemployment allowance they were entitled to in accordance with the laws and the refund of the housing scheme fund, which their factories collected from them previously. A retired worker from the Ferroalloy factory, Guo Xiujing talked about the demonstrations.
Guo Xiujing [Guo]:
We went [to the city government offices] again today, but not many were going. Its rather cold here these days. We did not have that many people today, our factory [Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory], plus the Steel Rolling Factory. There are about 200 of us.
Han Dongfang [Han]:
Did you bring along the banners asking for the release of the representatives?
Guo:
We did not hoist it today because we had fewer people and also the police dispersed us. The police were not too ruthless; they just wanted to drive us away from the square, but their attitude was not too bad. Yesterday we had lots of people [in the demonstration], a lot were from the other factories. I guess there were three to four thousand people. Workers from Liaoyang Textile Factory, Liaoyang Flax Mill, Canning Factory, Ferroalloy Factory, Steel Rolling Mill and some small factories [joined the demonstration]. We hoisted up a red banner that read Welcome the 16th Party Congress and Implement the Three Represents and a white banner reading What Crime have the Liaoyang Four Committed?. After a while, the police [from Liaoyang Public Security Bureau] didnt allow us to hoist the white banner, but they were very friendly. The PSB chief, a new one, was there and said, I promise we wont arrest anybody. That chief assumed his post lately and his attitude was really good.
Han:
They have got a new PSB chief?
Guo:
Yes, already a while.
Han:
When was it?
Guo:
Before May.
Han:
After the incident [the start of the labour protest - Ed]?
Guo:
Right. After that and before May, about two months after Yao Fuxin and the others were arrested.
Guo said that three open letters were posted a few day ago in different workers residential areas, signed in the names of Party members, young workers and retired workers. The open letters made four demands and appealed to the workers to gather in front of the city government offices on November 4, 5 and 6.
Guo:
We demand for unemployment allowance. We are not receiving our pensions either. Also our housing fund, which should be 2000 yuan per person. That was collected while we were working, something like an insurance policy and now we are retrenched and the factory shut down, so we should get the refund, but it seems they are not giving it back to us.
Han:
So what are the four demands this time?
Guo:
First, we demand the release of our four representatives and a clear decision. Second is the heating subsidy; they canceled the heating subsidy and we have to pay by ourselves, The Finance Bureau pays only for the retirees and the rest have to pay by themselves, and they would really be in trouble if they have to pay for the heating. Then, that housing fund, and lastly two years unemployment allowance and the basic living allowance which is stated in government regulations. The workers are out of job, and the government should pay the basic living allowance. For instance, in Liaoyang, it should be 182 yuan each month. And if a couple both got laid off and could not find another job, they should be paid the basic living allowance. But no, the government is not paying that.
Han:
What did the government say?
Guo:
In the broadcasts, the city party committee and the mayor announced that 120,000 out of 130,000 retrenched workers had been re-employed, something like 96% of the citys previously unemployed workers had found new jobs. But we are all staying idle at home. The Liaoyang city [government] is always good at cheating the central government while bullying the ordinary folk. We have no way out! Corruption! Ferroalloy workers care no more about it because these few guys ended up in jail. What is the point fighting corruption? Now we only want to have the four people [Liaoyang Four] back, and also our welfare which they should have given us.
Han:
Are you guys afraid, as the 16th Party Congress is approaching?
Guo:
Afraid? How could we be afraid when we have so many troubles? Who could be scared? We all stay at home, living on our savings; our money was not even enough for paying the insurance, heating, and all others. We have to pay everything by ourselves, and we dont know what to do. How can we survive? What could scare us? We have been forced to come forward, and we fear nothing.
A retrenched worker from the Paper Mill, next to the Ferroalloy Factory, talked about his familys financial difficulties.
Worker:
The Ferroalloy Factory and the Paper Mill are neighbors. I was retrenched, with a big group of workers and we did not receive any living allowance.
Han:
Since when?
Worker:
Already for eight to nine years. There are three generations in my home and I am in the middle, having one kid. My parents are not working; they are quite old, eighty something and from the village.
Han:
Do they all depend on you?
Worker:
Yeah, and we do have a hard life.
Han:
Are there many cases like yours in your neighborhood?
Worker:
Sure, a lot. Hmm, about half or one third are like this.
He said that people tend to feel for the workers and be supportive of their protests.
Worker:
Actually people are sympathetic. They think it is right [to protest], as there is no other way out.
Han:
What is their view of the arrested workers in March?
Worker:
People think that it is unreasonable to arrest them. They are just worker representatives and they have to have some representatives. I mean it is impossible to negotiate with several thousand and tens of thousand workers. So they need some representatives and you just cant arrest them, isnt it?
When asked if he had any expectation of the upcoming 16th Party Congress, the paper mill worker said:
Worker:
Of course I have expectations. The immediate interests and livelihood of workers are not guaranteed. Some retrenched workers might have 10,000 bucks [when they are retrenched] but there isnt much left after they pay the pension insurance. Its all about our livelihood. Now, workers keep going and protesting the city government and all their actions are all for this single issue. If their basic livelihood is guaranteed, they wouldnt bother to go, right? Who wants to go out in such a cold day? Isnt it? It is all for their livelihood.
Another worker from the Liaoyang Carton Factory shared his views on the protests over the past two years and the upcoming 16th Party Congress:
Worker:
My view on the workers action is this: those workers from the Ferroalloy Factory have made a complaint directly to the city party committee about the unfair situation, and they have marched in protest to urge the party committee to deal with them. But for the Carton Factory workers, whether laid off, retired or retrenched, damn it, we dont have the courage, and we dont have a clue about it.
Han:
As a worker, what do you expect from the 16th Congress?
Worker:
What do I expect?
I expect that at the 16th Congress
Well, for those laid-off and jobless workers, the government will do something for them. After all, these common people
are people of the Communist Party. We shouldnt let them worry about every single meal, just like my case. This is what I think.
Han:
Do you have to worry about every single meal now?
Worker:
Not now. But Im afraid this wont last long. Were almost there basically.
Han:
Say, in your case, how much longer can you hold on?
Worker:
Me? A year or so, I guess.
In this series:
Workers' Voices from Liaoyang Prior to the 16th Party Congress (2002-11-06)
"What has the 16th Party Congress got to do with me?" (2002-11-08)
The Party Wouldnt Allow Us to Suffer (2002-11-09)
A New Political Leadership Is In Place - So What? (2002-11-16)