Peru strikers, police clash at Chinese iron mine

Economy | 11 August, 2006 12:34

Peru strikers, police clash at Chinese iron mine

(by Yahoo! Asia News / Reuters)

LIMA, Peru, Aug 10 (Reuters) - As many as 20 people were hurt after strikers clashed with police at Peru's Chinese-owned Shougang iron ore mine on Thursday, although the company differed with workers over the injury toll.

Striking subcontracted workers who have blockaded Shougang Hierro Peru in southern Peru since Monday night said police attacked them with boots, tear gas and sticks, injuring 20 strikers and their wives, some of them seriously.

"The police were very abusive to the women, they were only cooking for the workers and they gave them a kicking," said Emiliano de la Cruz, a strike leader.
(snip)

"We're not going to let these Chinese treat us badly in our own country," said Rony Cueto, secretary general of the subcontracted union's workers, who is in Lima for talks with the Labor Ministry. "Now we're going to follow this through to the end."
(snip/...)

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060811/3/2oc2b.html

I would NEVER want to work in a mine for a Chinese boss. They have an amazing work ethic, are very authoritarian, have extremely high expectations, and often do not feel bound by any previous agreements they might have made. I like the Chinese, but it is not surprising they would have this kind of trouble, especially in Latin America which has a very different culture about these things.