Taking a stand: Trade union chairman fights back against Walmart

http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/taking-stand-trade-union-chairman-fights-back-against-walmart


Workers' Voices
Taking a stand: Trade union chairman fights back against Walmart

24 June, 2014

When Huang Xingguo decided in early March 2014 to take a stand against his employer, the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, he helped initiate one of the most important labour disputes in recent Chinese history. It was probably the first time an enterprise trade union chairman had actively led and organized the membership in a sustained and determined campaign to get decent compensation.

Huang argued that Walmart had acted illegally in closing down its store in Changde, Hunan, and therefore should have to pay double the standard rate of compensation. Walmart refused and got backing from the local government and municipal trade union but Huang and the 143 mostly female employees remained defiant.

During the early stages of the dispute, Huang talked to CLB Director Han Dongfang about the background to the dispute, why he decided to take such a bold stance and the tactics used by the union and the workers to maintain solidarity.

Following the interview, Walmart did make an improved offer of an additional 3,000 yuan per worker and although some workers accepted it, several refused the offer and Huang has vowed to continue to support his colleagues right up until to the end.

Bankruptcy or retrenchment

FULL story at link.