The issues of China's labor policy continue to get more and more attention. Today's WSJ (6/14/10) has a detailed feature article examing the issues at a broader level than the specifics of some of the other recent news stories. As I've stated in other posts, this is interesting and important for any HR professional for a better understanding of not just these issues -- but how they related to the U.S. history of labor relations, current legislative issues, etc.
It appears that most of the Chinese workers in major manufacturing plants for the automotive and electronics industry are represented by a union. But the union is government controlled with its leaders selected by the company management in conjuction with the government. For anyone not familiar with U.S. labor laws, this form of union organization would be illegal. From the stories I've seen, the unions are all management friendly. According to some activists and workers, the unions are "useless."
The workers are clearly campaigning for better wages and working conditions -- but it appears that a bigger issues is their voice in representation.
Comment: This is one reason why this is such an important issue for HR professionals -- staying aware of and thinking about the implications for our own labor policies. Great analysis from the WSJ today.
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