China’s Railroad Workers and the Violent Consequences of Pay Disputes

China’s Railroad Workers and the Violent Consequences of Pay Disputes
Apr 03, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: This translated article, which was first published on Beijing Morning News, exposes the dark and tragic relationship between China’s railway workers and their employers. With China expanding its rail network and building new fast trains annually, this situation should definitely be addressed. The author tells the story of the many people who have been influenced by these acts of violence.

Train
Source: Michael Vito

Migrant worker killed in pay dispute

Migrant worker Zhao Zhiming was unexpectedly killed in an attack on migrant workers by work unit personnel while attempting to recover 8,000 RMB of his earned wages. This shocking incident occurred in the 15th Bureau of the Guangle High-Speed Rail Project. Reporters found in a survey that certain construction companies resort to violence to deal with pay talks with migrant workers which often ends in bloodshed. Local governments do not want to offend these key construction companies and therefore do not step in to defend the workers or punish the companies involved.

Migrant workers ambushed halfway through pay talks

“First the police left, then we were ambushed; it was just like organized crime or the mob on television.” Even ten days after the incident, Zhao Xinbiao is still frightened and in shock.

On March 6, Zhao Xinbiao, his nephew Zhao Zhiming and 21 fellow workers from a suburb in Yinde, near Quanzhou in Guangxi, went to the 15th Bureau of the landmark Guangle T22 High-Speed Rail Project in order to demand their wages from the last six months.

By about 13:00 the round of pay talks at the project department bureau had failed and the workers began to leave the building. Ten minutes later, the workers were stopped by a group of people. According to Zhao Xinbiao, “Three cars blocked us off in the front and two pulled up behind us. More than 20 people holding knives and iron bars approached us. Without saying anything else, they began to attack us, trying to kill us.”

Zhao Xinbiao recalls that the unarmed workers were suddenly attacked, many were knocked to the ground and knocked unconscious. Workers fled and escaped in all directions. The group left abruptly. He then found Zhao Zhiming bleeding in a ravine on the side of the road. “He blinked at me, and then died. He did not leave any last words,” said Zhao Xinbiao.

The head of the Yingde City Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Brigade reported that after a preliminary investigation they found that the leader of the attack was Li Yukun and four others from the neighboring village of Nanlangbu. Among the attackers, Li Yukun worked at the 15th Railway Bureau. His contract shows that he was hired to haul and transport materials. He was detained by the Public Security Bureau. The other four suspects have also been detained and netizens have begun an online search for three more attackers.

Reporters confirmed that Zhao Xinbiao is still owed 14,000 RMB of wages since September 2013 despite several pay talks. Zhao Zhiming was owed 8,000 RMB.

Companies resort to violence?

Zhao Ping, the deputy director of the 15th Bureau Guangle Standard High-Speed Railway Project denied that the project had any part in the attack on the migrant workers. However, he said that, “When we have troubles with the local language barrier we usually ask Li Yukun to help deal with villager disputes.”

In recent years, those involved in the construction of central enterprises have resorted to violence in order to deal with financial disputes. These disputes then often result in bloodshed. According to incomplete statistics, in railway sections of two companies, more than 10 vicious beatings have occurred when dealing with owed wages and other economic disputes.

Industry insiders note that workers on railways are often a mixture of employees from a group of different companies, and some of the railway system management companies supervise themselves on a large scale. The work is often rough and brutal.

“One eye open, one eye closed.”

Thanks to a survey, reporters found that most of these cases involve key projects. Local governments are dependent on these kinds of projects and often deal with them with “one eye open and one eye closed.”

The 15th Bureau Railway Labor Union vice-chairperson Zhao Yongqi said that, “There is no direct blame on the railway company, however, due to humanitarian considerations we will accord 180,000 RMB to each person’s family through a once-off compensation payment.”

Yinde grassroots level cadres report that the 15th Bureau Railway Project had defaulted on workers’ wages for multiple years and the local government took no action. The high-speed railway project is Yingde’s “number one project.” In order to open the railway soon, the government would “blindly keep the peace.” Another reason for the tension is the locals’ general unwillingness to make trouble.

Railway construction companies: Incidents related to pay-talks

1) On July 13, 2009, the 23rd Bureau of the Darui railway project had a confrontation with workers during pay talks. The migrant workers were beaten and one was killed.

2) In July 2010, on a Menghe railway construction site in Honghezhou, Yunnan. The migrant workers were beaten during pay talks. Five dozen company railway workers came with knives, iron bars and other weapons and beat the migrant workers. Five workers were injured.

3) In August 2012, on the Jingfu high-speed rail project in Anhui another brawl occurred. Migrant workers were beaten with sticks and iron pipes. 20 people were injured.

4) In May 2013, on a Daxi Railway passenger line construction site in Shanxi, a brawl occurred over project disputes. Several workers and local policemen sustained injuries.

Source: xinhuanet.com

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Keywords: China’s railroad workers pay disputes china

10 Comments

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sharkies

Echinacities really bring out the worst in me. I'm usually not so negative, but after reading this my blood starts boiling. Another day and another disgrace. When the common people decide to revolt and not put up with the government's bullshit it will be one hell of a show. I feel sorry for the workers who have been deprived of their hard-earned wages. The level of corruption here is out of control. Things will never change. After living in China for seven years I'm really starting to despise the place. My days here are numbered.

Apr 03, 2014 12:22 Report Abuse

Robk

I hear you, I am planning my move within the next year or so (I have been here about as long as you). I tried, I really did to like China and integrate but it is not possible. China is great to spend a year or less then move on. Otherwise, honestly... you will waste away here. Too many things are just too superficial, materialistic and corrupt to ever think about planting roots in China.

Apr 03, 2014 16:36 Report Abuse

sharkies

Good comment. Totally agree.

Apr 04, 2014 11:27 Report Abuse

sharkies

Guest, you need to improve your reading skills because you totally missed the point I was making. Who made comments "comparing" ourselves to the railway workers? You say we left our countries because we didn't "fit in". How the hell would you know what my situation is like? FYI, I have been here over seven years and speak a very high level of Chinese. I have a senior management position for a large Australian company. I know more about Chinese culture than you could read in any book. The poor treatment of Chinese workers has absolutely nothing to do with "Chinese culture". From your silly remarks I'm guessing you are fresh off the boat full of love and positivity for China. I can tell you, that attitude will change soon enough once you pull your head out of the sand and open your eyes.

Apr 08, 2014 08:50 Report Abuse

Guest2368048

I agree with sharkies. Guest 2264842 would benefit from taking a reading class from a good teacher. As far as the thinking part goes, Guest 2263842, the "heroes of China" you termed were being beaten up and killed, and when Sharkies condemned such acts, you told him he should learn to be tolerant. Like you? You are exhibiting classic slave mentalities here; when the master whip and torture them, the weak ones comes up with excuses like "tolerance is a virtue" to fool themselves and make their days tolerable. This is exactly the kind of distorted, sick psyche plenty of mainland Chinese have. I never said everything in the West was perfect and no one could find any area for improvements. But at least you don't see construction workers being beaten up and killed in developed countries, in such a primitive, barbaric, triad societies manner. China will never be respected by those who know what mainland Chinese are, as a group, until it becomes a civilized society.

Apr 08, 2014 13:58 Report Abuse

bill8899

So China refuses to pay their heroes? Makes sense, actually.

May 31, 2014 10:35 Report Abuse

Englteachted

China can't even pay their workers so yes, China will become a global currency. What a joke.

Apr 03, 2014 09:17 Report Abuse

louischuahm

How could their pay be withheld for so long? Railway projects are funded by the government and money isn't a problem. The only thing that results in this is embezzlement. So what's new? The trouble is that it's done at the expense of these migrant workers. They leave their families to work in these projects but were not paid. I can imagine that the corruption goes all the up to the higher echelon of management. So while they enjoy at the top, these poor workers get beaten into submission. What kind of animals do that?

Apr 03, 2014 08:08 Report Abuse

Guest655508

from projects i know, 50% comes from government and 50% is auctioned off into shares, bought up by local enterprises.

Apr 03, 2014 12:54 Report Abuse

Sjama

Animals don't do this kind of disguisting stuff. This is just unhuman, extremely egoistic and deserves a life in the worst prison.

Apr 10, 2014 18:05 Report Abuse