Wildcat unions springing up in Chinese factories - man, that's going to put a hurt on WalMart.

[HopeHoops]

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/wildcat-unions-springing-chinese-fact

(snip)
Across 126,000 Chinese factories, workers have refused to live like this any more. Wildcat unions have sprung up, organised by text message, demanding higher wages, a humane work environment, and the right to organise freely. Millions of young workers across the country are blockading their factories and chanting, "There are no human rights here!" and, "We want freedom!"
(snip)

More at link - including a video.

[nonperson]

1. The dollar store is now the five and below store

And all those Chinese imports are going to go up in price too. What choice do we have now? We don't make a damn thing in America anymore. Our sole export seems to be military occupation.

[HopeHoops]

4. Actually, the Five Below store is quite different and curiously, Dollar Tree has a lot of US made...

...stuff. That wasn't the case a few years back, but you can get all kinds of stuff in Dollar Tree that's made in the US now - glassware, pool noodles, craft supplies, and much more. Even a lot of the seasonal candy is US made now. I refuse to buy candy made in China. It sort of freaked me out when I started finding US made products there, but they're much more common now. Some of the shit like the crappy toys will always be made in China. You just have to check the labels.

As for Five Below, that's almost entirely crap I wouldn't buy at any price. I've been in there about five times and there's just nothing worth buying. I doubt I'll go back.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Don't forget that "Made in USA" can mean factories in territories and

commonwealths where conditions and controls aren't at all like in the 50 states. I'd still prefer Saipan-made products to Chinese ones, but I don't expect much quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islands

[HopeHoops]

9. They often state the place of origin. Illinois Glass Company's factory is actually in Illinois.

Curiously, the glass I'm drinking out of right now came from the Dollar Tree and was made by the Illinois Glass Company.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. It's when they DON'T list state of origin that one should be suspicious.

Smaller or single location U.S. companies proudly display the town and state of manufacture or production on the label.

[HopeHoops]

13. Good point!

[KittyWampus]

2. the corporate taskmasters have already moved a lot of operations into more "user friendly" countries

This leaves China facing quite a conundrum.

An article that touches on dynamics here at International Business Times:

http://africa.ibtimes.com/articles/131282/20110406/ap-rising-costs-higher-wages-drive-low-cost-manufacturing-out-of-southern-china.htm

[Jackpine Radical]

3. What can we do to help?

Universal unionization is a really strong answer to the problem of low-wage deathpits.

[KittyWampus]

5. To a large extent, it's a local problem to be solved in each country when the time is right.

The same way that you can't just shove a Democracy onto a country that hasn't had an equivalent of an Enlightenment. Democracy is part of a process that develops over time amongst a population.

Corporations have already moved from China's coasts to inland for cheaper labor and there's only so much automation that can be done in many jobs.

Corporations are now moving to Laos, Burma, Cambodia... it's a model that actually has it's upside. It does move an undeveloped country forward.

Countries that have relied on low wage jobs reach a point where they should have an educated younger population who will begin to design the products that OTHER low wage countries will produce.

Many people on DU cite Paul Krugman and he has explained the problem isn't necessarily out sourcing- it's the lack of newer, better paying jobs for a supposedly more educated population.

In the US, this seems to have moved backwards. Less education and less technological development.

[HopeHoops]

7. AND to a large extent, it is our problem. Look at that "made in" label and decide...

...do I really need this?

Americans are largely responsible for the loss of our factories because, as a people, we opted for lower priced crap made in slave camp factories instead of higher quality goods made here. I'd rather pay $10 for a hammer that will last me a lifetime than buy 10 shitty hammers for $1 over the course of five years. I'm still using SnapOn and Craftsman tools that my grandfathers bought before I was born - and I'm 48!!!

[Hugabear]

6. Guess that means it's time to move on to Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia...

Kudos to the Chinese workers for standing up for themselves, and demanding better working conditions.

And a big FUCK YOU to American corporations for exploiting overseas labor.

[Brother Buzz]

10. Interesting, Wal-Mart 'employees' in China are unionized - collective bargaining, go figure

Wal-Mart Strikes Pay Deal With Chinese Union

07.25.08



<snip>

The U.S. retailer, the world's largest, said Friday it had reached collective bargaining agreements with China's official union, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), in several cities. Wal-Mart operates more than 100 of its namesake stores throughout China and employs 48,589 people.

Dave Orlins, president of the National Committee of U.S. China Relations, said the agreement is crucial to Wal-Mart's business. "To expand in China, one needs government support," he says. "This is what you should be doing in China." And Wal-Mart knows as much.

"We support these efforts because of the valuable, mutually beneficial partnership the government-run union offers and because of their commitment to assisting businesses in our growth and development in China," said Kevin Gardner, a Wal-Mart spokesman.

The famously anti-union Wal-Mart has been something of a poster child for the Chinese government's drive to get all foreign-owned enterprises to recognize the ACFTU. The collective bargaining agreements come two years after the retailer yielded to sustained pressure to allow the union, the only one officially sanctioned in China, to organize at its local outlets.

<more>

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/25/walmart-china-unions-lead-cx_mk_0725acftu.html

[Marblehead]

11. How long did the oligarchs

think they could exploit the chinese before they rebelled, forever??

[AndyTiedye]

14. As Long as Their Troops Are Willing to Shoot The People Dead in the Streets

The Chinese government was greatly emboldened by Tienanmen Square.

[loudsue]

15. The Chinese government is HORRIBLE, and will do anything to keep

those several BILLION people in China in check. It will change when their military finally starts to stand with the people, instead of the government.

There was a thread on DU yesterday showing that only like 12% of Chinese think things are good in their country. Tienanmen Square needs to happen again, but with the military on board this time like what happened in Egypt.

I'm sure the Chinese government did not allow any internet reports about the Egyptian military standing up for the people.

[moondust]

17. No doubt the oligarchs "appreciate" that "guarantee."

"Stability" is all-important! (After money.)

Other people's freedom? Not so much.

[Gregorian]

16. Weird. I just posted that unions in China must happen now. But for a totally different reason.

The environmental impact of shipping back and forth is killing the planet. When unions give Chinese workers fair working conditions, America will see jobs returning. And shipping will slow down, hopefully.

[femrap]

18. K and R

This makes me very happy....Workers Unite!

[shimmergal]

19. The Chinese government has supported

moves toward a higher minimum wage.

Also all enterprises operating in China have to be at least 51% Chinese owned. This could mean trouble for U.S. corporations who are blithely thinking that if production costs rise too much, they can just move their operations to one of those surrounding countries with lower wages etc.& It ain't gonna happen so easily.

OTOH, if they're hanging in there in hopes of selling to the exploding Chinese domestic market, it could work to everyone's advantage. Produce there for China and the rest of East Asia, bring back production to the U.S. for North American markets. If we'd had a similar policy (making companies really _pay_ for moving their operations offshore), we wouldn't have lost so many jobs. Unfortunately, Africa (as well as those other Asian countries) beckon. Are the Lords of Commerce again going to show their stupidity?

Of course too many CEOs are just in it to make their pile and get out--another result of too much short-term thinking. Chinese planners think long term.

[Hugabear]

21. Hmmm...American corporations moving their factories to Africa for low-wage labor?

Using Africans as a source of low-wage labor? No, that would never happen in the US. :sarcasm:

[Generic Other]

20. Solidarity for the workers

Fuck scab western Walmart lobbyists. Everyone deserves a living wage, not serfdom.