Workers
Update on the labour unrest at Gold Peak’s JetPower Plant in Shenzhen
Two women workers placed on mandatory ‘long term leave’ after staging a sit in at JetPower
Female workers blocking JetPower gates on 21 April - beore security guards moved in. Placards read from left: lack of conscience - Shenzhen JetPower; Give me back my life; cadmium workers; Give me back my health and immoral employer. [Photo Nangfang Daily]
Workers from the Gold peak subsidiary, JetPower have been battling management over secretive relocation plans, mass lay offs and minimal compensation plans for workers affected with the toxin cadmium as a result of working at JetPower making batteries. Gold Peak battery products are sold all over the world through a network of GP offices. At least 400 workers, mainly young migrant women workers have been officially affected.
For year the ITUC through IHLO have worked with groups in the region to highlight the case. Gold Peak ahs consistently refused to offer adequate compensation and has instead moved production to new factories and failed to provide their workers with full information and safety measures against cadmium. Gold Peak has established a fund to help affected workers but so far few have benefited. Instead Gold Peak has sought to silence its critics and has even begun court proceedings against Hong Kong groups and unions – including the ITCU affiliate the HKCTU.
In February workers at JetPower went on strike against rumours of relocation and mass dismissals and management finally agreed to negotiations with the workers. Since then however very little has happened and workers still fear that they face an uncertain future with little or no compensation - even for those seriously affected by their exposure to cadmium. The factory union has been of little help however – its chair is a general manager of the plant.
April work stoppage
On 21 April, ten women with excessive cadmium levels attempted to block the factory entrance to JetPower after being refused proper compensation. In response, JetPower deployed more than fifty security guards to ensure that their goods were able to leave the factory. The security guards joined with fifty policemen to overwhelm the workers picket of the factory gates and at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, trucks carrying factory products roared out of the factory. The factory management stated that ‘If it wasn't for Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s official visit to Shenzhen, we would have taken action to break the picket earlier in the day. We were afraid that the workers would use the Prime Minister's presence in the city to create an incident so we waited until the late evening before moving the trucks out.'
The workers resumed normal working the following day, 22 April. However, factory management maintained a heavy security presence near the factory's industrial lifts in case workers decided to block the lift doors in order the movement of machinery and goods around the plant. In the morning of the same day, management met with workers with excessive level of cadmium. At the meeting they guaranteed workers a monthly nourishment allowance of RMB 300 until such time as tests demonstrated the absence of cadmium in their bodies. Management also stated that they would open a RMB2.5 million compensation fund under the management of the Shenzhen government and labour bureau in order to meet legal standards of compensation for occupational disease.
Two women workers forced on ‘leave’ – wages docked
On 23 April, workers with excess levels of cadmium blocked the factories industrial lifts to try and stop the movement of machinery. In response, management orders security staff to surround the workers and prevent them from picketing the lift doors. The workers were effectively detained by security for some time and not allowed to use the lavatory. As a result, Li Fanglan developed stomach pains and asked to be allowed to use the toilet but her way was physically blocked by a guard who used his arm to stop her leaving the scene. This action caused Ms. Li to be struck in the mouth and suffer a loose tooth. Another worker, Zhong Xiaoyou developed headaches and dizziness after the scuffle. In desperation, the workers called the police who ordered the security staff to allow Ms. Li and Ms. Zhong to leave the premises and see a doctor. Following examination, Ms. Zhong was diagnosed with internal head injuries. JetPower management stated that they would take Ms. Li to see a doctor the following day, 24 April.
However on 24 April, JetPower management accused the two women of actions that have caused serious economic losses to the company. The workers have been placed on indefinite mandatory leave until further notice. Management stated that their wages will be adjusted in accordance with the labour law. The workers have appealed to Hong Kong labour groups for assistance and requested that the media continue to monitor their plight.
February 2009: Worker strike
Since September 2008 onwards, machines and managers have been quietly moved out of the Shenzhen JetPower factory reducing the size of the factory from two buildings to just three floors while the number of workers was cut from 1000 to about 500. It was widely rumoured that the plant was to move to Huizhou but with no clarification offered and attempts at discussions rejected workers went on strike from the 19 to the 25 of February.
The strike successfully forced a representative from GP to meet with the workers and she announced that JetPower would indeed relocate to Huizhou and close its Shenzhen operations. A compensation package would be given to the workers by 23 February at the latest. However on 23 February, Gold Peak held another meeting with the workers and announced instead that the company was to remain in Shenzhen and would fulfil its contractual obligations. However no compensation proposal was provided until the following day the company finally announced a compensation package and reassured workers that “all [the relocation] will be done in accordance with the laws”. However despite continued requests no clear package has been agreed.
Factory ACFTU chair represents management
In another twisted irony when workers initially met with the labour bureau and upper management representative’s n 18 February, they were faced with the local Chinese General Manager of the plant representing management – at the same time however he was also the factory’s ACFTU branch chair. Holding both titles however did not stop him from claiming that he knew ‘nothing’ about the company’s plans. The chair/manager is due for retirement soon and workers believe that the 5,000 Yuan earmarked as union help for sick workers will be scrapped once he is retired. [The ‘union’ has around 400 members both management and rank and file workers].
Refusal to pay medical costs
While the situation is grim for several hundred of these workers who will be laid off, the situation will be immeasurably worse for those workers who have contracted cadmium poisoning or have excessive levels in their blood stream. The compensation package for hem has not yet been announced and the company remains reluctant to hold genuine talks with the affected workers.
During the strike, as a grim portent of the possible problems to come, a worker who has already been diagnosed with excessive cadmium level and with 18 years of service at JetPower fainted. The worker was admitted into hospital but JetPower were reluctant to pay for the medical fee. After lengthy negotiations JetPower agreed to pay HK1, 500 out of the total 2,012 Yuan. The workers decided to leave hospital to reduce further medical fees and then found that JetPower had instead taken the money they paid out of a special union fund for sick employees reducing her allowance.
Workers are now calling for
1. Immediate negotiations with all workers who have excessive cadmium levels on the workers’ compensation proposal;
2. Announce a proposal for the medical treatment and follow-up arrangements for
Workers with excessive cadmium levels and cadmium poisoning.
Beginning from the middle of April, JetPower workers with excessive cadmium levels have started a new round of action taking turns to stop delivery of JetPower products. A solidarity demonstration took place in Hong Kong on 22 April and further action continues.
IHLO
April 2009
Further details
For the JetPower strike summary : The six-day strike at Shenzhen JetPower Batteries Ltd. (19 -24 Feb 2009)*
For the Open Letter by Hong Kong based unions and groups to Gold Peak on this case see: Letter to Gold Peak Industrial Holding Ltd regarding JetPower April 2009
For more information on the Gold peak campaign see IHLO website and Globalisation monitor
Information supplied by Globalization Monitor
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