On 2012-03-18, at 2:32 PM, Tony Rolfe wrote:
> Thanks Marv for the links. Saves me googling. I think what is
> interesting about this is that because Chinese workers are striking
> (this is happening all over the world), we perceive a a sort of
> differential in their class awareness versus that of our own working
> class. I don't see it.
But the difference is revealed in the incidence and nature of strike activity. This is related to whether economies are expanding and jobs are being created, or contracting or stagnating when jobs are being lost. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if you feel you can leave your employer and readily find work elsewhere, you'll be more willing to strike and engage in other forms of protest, than if you're worried a strike or lockout could cost your job and there is nothing else available?
The incidence of strikes has been steadily increasing in China, as Chinese workers seek to improve their pay and benefits in an expanding economy where labour shortages are beginning to appear.
The incidence of strikes has been steadily declining in the US where the unionized manufacturing sector has shrunk dramatically in relative terms, and such rare strikes as occur are typically defensive in nature - in response to employer attempts to cut pay, benefits, and jobs, often resulting in concessions such as two-tier wage systems.
Here is dramatic proof of the decline of the US trade union movement over the past three decades:
http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
Note how strike activity involving 1000 or more workers fell off a cliff with the onset of the 80's. This was coincident with the hollowing out of the US manufacturing owing to rapid technological change which both automated production at home and allowed for the outsourcing of jobs to vast new pools of cheap labour abroad. In 1950, there were 424 major strikes, and the numbers never fell below triple digits until the 80's. Last year, there were just 19 large-scale strikes, the year before, 11, and in 2009, a scant 5 in the wake of the financial and economic crisis.