[Broadcast on 19 March, 2003]
From 12 March onwards, retired workers from the Suizhou Tieshu Textile Group in Hubei Province, have launched a demonstration in protest about corruption and to fight for their rights. They have now blocked the factory entrance for eight days. A listener called us and said that after being threatened by Suizhou City Government for days, policemen seized a retired worker outside the factory entrance in the afternoon of 19 March, and this aroused the workers anger. However, when they planned to march to the Public Security Bureau [PSB] in protest, the PSB released the worker. Lets listen to a worker at the Tieshu Textile Group telling us what he witnessed at that time:
Worker:
Well, the entrance has been blocked for eight days. The leadership hasnt settled the issue they havent solved the problem in a proper way.
Han:
Have the workers gone there today?
Worker:
Theyve gone there already!
Han:
When do most people go there?
Worker:
Around 8 in the morning; and 2 in the afternoon. Because they [the management] are on duty during these hours. This morning, they seized a person who they said was suspected of breaking the rules.
Han:
When did they seize that worker?
Worker:
Today, at 10
around 10 oclock.
Han:
How many people have been caught?
Worker:
They caught one person
Han:
Is he a retired worker?
Worker:
Yes.
Han:
How long had this person been detained in the PSB before he was released?
Worker:
He was just detained for a while, and then they released him. Otherwise, the workers would have marched there to look for him. The workers were ready to do so. They would go there for anyone who had been detained.
Han:
So in fact the workers are not afraid of...
Worker:
They arent; they arent. We are right just because we are right. They owe us money; we are asking for our own money, not disobedience.
This worker also told me that the legal hotline of Chutien City Post on 26 February answered questions about the share system for Tieshu Textile workers, and it said that the enterprise should repay the loans to the workers, together with the interest. Yet when the workers posted a copy of this newspaper on the factory entrance, the policemen torn it away.
Worker:
In the Chutien Doushi Bao
issued on 26 February. There was a piece of legal advice, saying that under the share system, once the enterprise goes bankrupt, it has to repay the staff [their shares], together with the interest. This appeared on 26 February in the Chutien Doushi Bao. People asked the lawyers opinions, and the lawyer answered in this way. It was posted at the entrance, but it was torn away.
Han:
Who tore it away?
Worker:
The policemen from the PSB!
I then called the office of Tieshu Textile Group. A member of staff receiving my call told me at first that the Suizhou Daily News knew much more about the situation that they do, and then he said that the office knew nothing at all:
Staff member:
You should
you should contact our press to learn about the situation. Im just on duty here. The press
the post box of the Suizhou Daily.
Han:
Why should I contact the Suizhou Daily?
Staff member:
They
know much
much more than we do.
Han:
Did the Suizhou Daily News report this issue?
Staff member:
Mmm
Im not sure
Im just on duty here.
Han:
A member of staff on duty... you are at the factory office, arent you?
Staff member:
Yeah!
Han:
Why does the press know much better than the factory?
Staff member:
Oh
I dont know.
Han:
Are you a member of staff at this factory?
Staff member:
Right!
Han:
Then shouldnt the factory staff know better than the press?
Staff member:
Mmm
usually thats the case, but then
were still
just on duty. We don't take care of any other business.
Han:
Mmm
What kind of business dont you take care of?
Staff member:
We dont take care of anything! Ha-ha
were just on duty here. We dont take care of any other business! Haha
A current worker at the Tieshu Textile Group believed that the reason for the city government is protecting the leadership of the Tieshu Textile Group is because the leading government officials in the city and even the provincial government have been benefiting from the Textile Group in order to travel abroad. If there were any arrests among the [leaders] of the Tieshu Textile then it would also involve many senior cadres of the city and provincial government:
Worker:
We should be on duty today. But they told us not to come back to the office. Things will be getting worse for tomorrow.
Han:
Things will be getting worse tomorrow?
Worker:
Yeah.
Han:
Why?
Worker:
The factory has lost 400 million. When the factory began to lose money, Yu Huahong was the factory manager. After he nearly destroyed the whole factory, he was transferred to the post of the Head of Office for the Economics Planning Committee in the city - That man is called Yu Huahong. The staff are not satisfied with this situation they want to check his accounts. Now it is said that this [possible corruption] may involved the mayors of the city government, and even the provincial leadership. If a case is disclosed against him, at least 10 to 15 people would be involved, and they are all major senior cadres of Hubei Province, including those in the city of Suizhou, and the cadres in every senior level, one after one. The leadership - including cadres up to the level of mayor - all senior cadres and mayors traveled abroad to have fun, at the time when he [Yu Huadong] was still the factory manager - two years ago.
Han:
It is said that a few days ago the vice-mayor spoke the factorys closed circuit TV, and he threatened to seize the leading workers. Is that right?
Worker:
He did! And he said it again today!
Han:
Are the workers afraid of this?
Worker:
No, they arent! The workers are mainly [fighting] for the sake of their work for the sake of their personal interests. you understand? Think about it many generations of textile workers are dependant on this factory [this refers to the system whereby once a worker retires, his son or daughter can often take up his or her post].