Honda workers in China win strike

A strike by 200 workers at a car components factory in China has ended in victory, as the wave of strikes across the car industry continues.

A week-long strike at Honda supplier Atsumitec ended on Thursday of last week with workers winning a pay rise of 45 percent, a monthly living allowance and a performance related bonus.

The factory, in the southern city of Foshan, supplies gear shift levers for Honda cars made in China.

Atsumitec bosses had attempted a mass scabbing operation to break the strike, hiring 100 replacement workers to keep the factory open.

Some reports suggested that strikers blocked the scabs from entering the plant. Other reports said a small number of strikers returned to the production line but didn’t do any work, resulting in managers telling them to leave.

The China Labour Bulletin, which closely follows industrial disputes in China, called it a “significant victory”.

As the Atsumitec strike was ending, hundreds of workers walked out at Omron’s car parts factory in Guangzhou.

Workers demanded a 40 percent pay rise. They said between 400 and 500 out of the 800 workforce at the factory have gone on strike.

The factory makes electronic components for cars and supplies Honda, Motor, Ford and other firms.

One worker at Omron said, “We are not satisfied with the current salary. We talked to the management before but got no reply – that’s why we are on strike.”

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