The Rumbling--And Why The 2012 Elections Won't Help...Much [View all]
from the Working Life blog:
The Rumbling--And Why The 2012 Elections Won't Help...Much
by Jonathan Tasini
Friday 30 of December, 2011
I took a longer break from blogging than I thought--to think, observe a bit, rest the brain, cycle New Zealand's spectacular South Island. But, what stirred me to break this hiatus, at the very moment that people are switching off their computers to turn to libations and debauchery, was, well, the modest observation that the rumbling throughout the globe is just beginning--and the 2012 elections won't change much because neither party wants to challenge the bankruptcy of the so-called "free market".
That seemed obvious to me for a long time but what might help explain this are two pieces worth dipping into. First, from the Financial Times yesterday:
Thousands of employees at an LG Display factory in eastern China went on strike this week over year-end bonuses, part of a wave of industrial unrest across China this autumn as workers become increasingly assertive.
By Wednesday evening the dispute, which involved some 8,000 people and forced a partial shutdown of production at LG Displays factory in Nanjing, appeared to be moving towards resolution after three days of protests.
...
The so-called cheap labour model has created a lot of problems and is not working anymore, said Kirk Yang, tech specialist and managing director at Barclays Capital.
...
The publics awareness of democracy, equality and rights is constantly strengthening, and their corresponding demands are growing, said Zhu Mingguo, an official who helped broker the Wukan settlement, in comments published in state media. Their channels for voicing grievances are diverse, and there is a tendency for conflicts to become more intense.
Although Mr Zhu was referring to political protests, labour action also threatens the Communist partys grip on power. China has a party-sanctioned, nationwide labour union the All China Federation of Trade Unions but it is essentially an arm of the government and independent organisations are banned.
..................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.workinglife.org/blogs/view_post.php?content_id=15353