Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Workers Fight Back

Hong Kong’s workers are often stereotyped as passive and divided. While 2003 was certainly marked by increased attacks on working conditions – many employers used the SARS outbreak to lay off workers and rehire under inferior conditions once the crisis was over – unions affiliated to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Union’s fought back. The following is a brief rundown of the main victories.

1. New World First Bus Staff Union fights against double-pay cut

In June, the New World First Bus (NWFB) Company announced a proposal to replace the annual fixed year-end double-pay with a performance-related bonus scheme applicable to all 2,500 employees. Despite attempts at negotiation between the NWFB Staff Union and management, the latter refused to drop or moderate their plans. The Staff Union held a press conference to announce plans for industrial action. Workers from another bus company, the Citybus Limited Employees Union, expressed their willingness to join the action. In a dramatic last minute phone call, NWFB management caved in and agreed not to drop the year-end bonus.

2. Successful fight against swimming pool outsourcing

2003 saw a continuation of the government’s outsourcing of public services. When the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced a plan to outsource staffing and lifeguard services at public swimming pools, they met with strong opposition from the Hong Kong & Kowloon Life Guard’s Union, an HKCTU affiliate. The union threatened an all out strike and scheduled the event for National Day on October 1st. Growing anger forced the LCSD to scrap the outsourcing plan and the lifeguards’ victory has greatly encouraged other unions’ anti-outsourcing campaigns.

3. Overwhelming support for the July 1 Protest

On July 1, over 500,000 Hong Kong people took to the streets in a massive anti-government protest to oppose Article 23. HKCTU was one of the main organisers of this historic march that also saw loud calls for universal suffrage. We argued that the draconian security legislation would deliver a potentially fatal blow to independent organising. In the face of overwhelming popular opposition, two government ministers resigned, precipitating a political crisis and forcing the government to drop the proposed legislation.

4. Successful fight for year-end pay rise

Following a union campaign, Cathay Pacific Airways agreed to a salary increase for some 5,600 flight attendants at the end of November. The increase ranged from half a per cent to over two per cent starting from January 2004. Despite pressure from the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong to implement a pay freeze, Cathay Pacific also agreed to provide special subsidies to compensate employees for the three week period of mandatory unpaid leave during the SARS outbreak and also paid year-end bonuses equivalent to half a month’s wages.

5. Slow-drive strike at Citybus

Following the sacking of a trade union activist, Citybus Limited Employees Union organised a campaign for the reinstatement of their dismissed general secretary. The union also demanded the right to post public notices and the restoration of the typhoon subsidy. Management’s tactic of issuing of mass “warning letters” to staff was condemned as well. On September 9, the union staged joint industrial action with the New World First Bus Staff Union, embarking on a work-to-rule campaign during morning rush hour that succeeded in forcing the reinstatement of the general secretary. The management also made a public apology during a press conference.

6. Poverty alleviation job scheme extended by one year

In 2002, the Financial Secretary announced a HK$200 million scheme to create temporary “poverty alleviation jobs”. Under the scheme, the Hospital Authority (HA) began employing temporary workers. However, following health service budget cuts in March, many hospitals began preparations to replace the “poverty alleviation positions” with outsourced workers. Following protests by trade unions and labour groups, the government promised to extend the duration of “poverty alleviation jobs” by one year.

7. Retention of the “Hardship allowance”

In February, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced plans to cut the “hardship allowance” of foremen and the lower-ranking sanitary workers. Trade unions mobilized nearly 400 workers to march to the department’s headquarters on March 18. The SARS outbreak further highlighted the selfless contributions of these workers. The authorities eventually agreed to retain the “hardship allowance”.

8. PCCW employees march against pension cut

On May 18, the PCCW Staff Union launched a mass demonstration with thousands of workers to oppose the company’s unilateral decision to change employees’ pension plans. The company had reduced the ratio of its pension contributions from 16 per cent to 8 per cent affecting over 5,000 employees. Mass protests forced the management to make several concessions.

9. Satay King forced to raise pay

The feasibility of the Labour Department’s Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme has been a controversial since its introduction. According to a survey conducted by the HKCTU, only 30 per cent of participants were successful in finding a job and the average monthly pay of these jobs was just HK$4,800. Some unscrupulous employers even classified workers on the scheme as “interns” to try and “legitimize” their exploitation of young people. Among the worst examples, Satay King Restaurant paid young workers as little as HK$1.9 an hour. In the face of mounting pressure and condemnations from various labour groups, Satay King agreed to raise wages to HK$3,000 a month.

10. PolyU decides on three-shift rotating system of security guards

Outsourced security guards and janitors at universities are among the most exploited workers in Hog Kong. Wages can be as little as HK$4,000 a month for a 12-hour day, six days a week. Trade unions joined hands with social groups to fight for minimum wage protection and a three-shift rotating system of security guards. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was the first to launch the three-shift system for security guards.