The “Citizen Strike”: Sustaining the Organizing Core

Abstract

The key role of leadership in enabling labor activism in China was not only demonstrated in the jewelry industry but was also reflected in the electronics industry in Shenzhen. In October 2011, a strike broke out in Shenzhen Guanxing Precision Mould Factory (hereafter “Guanxing Factory”), which produced watch supplements for the Japanese brand “Citizen” (see table 6.1). The “Citizen Strike” lasted for 31 days (see table 6.2). It demonstrated some major differences from other strikes in southern China. First, the duration of the strike was long (nearly one month), which was much longer than other migrant workers’ strikes, which usually lasted for only one or two days. Second, a workers’ representative committee was formed by election during the strike. The committee negotiated with the representatives of the employer and initiated collective negotiations with the employer. The negotiations eventually led to a formal agreement that was accepted by most workers. In addition, the organizers of the strike and the workers’ representative committee were able to continue to work in the factory for over six months after the strike. It helped to maintain their capacity to organize and take action.