Collective Awakening and Action of Chinese Workers – The 2010 Auto Workers’ Strike and its Effects

On May 17, 2010, a strike erupted at the Honda parts plant in Nanhai, a city located in the Chinese center of the manufacturing industry in Guangdong province. More than 1,800 workers participated, and the strike disrupted all of Honda’s spare parts production facilities in China and lead to the paralyzing of Honda’s car production in China.

On May 28, the strike wave spread to a Hyundai car factory and on May 29 to US-American Chrysler’s joint venture Jeep factory, both in Beijing. On June 18, Toyota’s second car plant in Tianjin had to close, due to a strike.

In July, the Chinese media were universally asked to restrict their coverage of the strikes, but the strikes in the auto industry still did not stop. Prior to July 22, at least two of Honda’s joint venture factories saw strikes.

The organizers and most important participants of these strikes were migrant workers (农民工 nongmingong, peasant workers). During the strike wave they showed very strong collective consciousness and capacity for collective action.

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