Dozens of workers at Robust water bottling factory in Guangzhou went on strike on 8 November following the sudden announcement that their factory, owned by French multinational Danone, would be sold to Shenzhen-based Win Holdings.
Management repeatedly refused to negotiate with workers. Government officials tried to discourage workers from raising such demands in a change of ownership, though workers cited numerous past cases, including the well-known example of Pepsi, where new owners initiated layoffs and pay cuts after the takeover.
When the company finally met with workers after two weeks on strike, riot police entered factory grounds and attempted to prevent workers from gathering. Several workers were injured, and one hospitalized, and two workers were fired by management.