Catherwood LibraryILR School

Continuing allegations of mismanagement and exploitation arising from China’s transition to capitalism and the dismantling of cradle-to-grave job security (see WIT for Jan. 21, 2002) are leading to a wave of labor protests that are likely to increase as more industries are transitioned to capitalism under World Trade Organization regulations. In what are being called the largest labor demonstrations since the Communist Party’s rise to power in 1949, up to 30,000 or more workers laid off at the Daqing Oilfield have protested in front of the complex every weekday since March 1st. Told that the corporation was facing bankruptcy, and pressured into accepting severance packages that will leave them in poverty, the workers---who were once praised as national heroes---began protesting when the company announced that it would drastically cut back their already meager benefits.