2015-01-05
.jpg)
Coal mine workers demand unpaid wages and benefits at the municipal government office in Tengzhou, Jan. 4, 2014.
Photo courtesy of a worker
Hundreds of workers at a state-run coal mine in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong are on strike following clashes at the weekend amid protests over unpaid wages and benefits, workers said on Monday.
Around half the workforce at the Jinda mine near Shandong’s Tengzhou city continued to strike on Monday after crowds of more than 1,000 people began gathering outside municipal government offices at the beginning of the year, sparking clashes with police on Sunday.
Local sources told RFA that one worker sustained head injuries in the clashes and was taken to hospital for treatment, while six people were detained at the scene.
“They owe us five months’ back pay, so this affects everyone at the mine,” a striking worker who gave only a nickname A Ming said.
He said the strike action had continued on Monday.
“We’re still not back in production,” he said. “Some of the workers went to their work stations today, but they just hung out there.”
Six workers, four men and two women, were detained during Sunday’s mass protest, but were later released, he added.
Holiday affected
“They promised they would give us two months’ worth [of back pay] ahead of the New Year, but instead they are doing ‘ideological work’ with us,” A Ming said.
He said the workers “had no idea” why the company was having trouble meeting its wage bill.
“I really can’t answer that,” he said.
The strike comes just weeks ahead of the annual Chinese New Year celebrations, when millions of migrant workers traditionally make the trip home to spend time with their families, bringing gifts of money, luxury food and drink, and new clothes.
An employee surnamed Jin who answered the phone at a coal-washing contractor in Jinda’s supply chain confirmed that the mine had ceased production.
