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The Changing Nature of Labor Unrest in China

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  • Manfred Elfstrom
  • Sarosh Kuruvilla

Abstract

A qualitative shift is underway in the nature of labor protest in China. Contrary to prior literature that characterized strikes as being largely defensive in nature, the authors suggest that since 2008, Chinese workers have been striking offensively for more money, better working conditions, and more respect from employers. They explain these developments using a “political process†model that suggests economic and political opportunities are sending “cognitive cues†to workers that they have increased leverage, leading them to be more assertive in their demands. Such cues include a growing labor shortage, new labor laws, and new media openness. Their argument is supported by a unique data set of strikes that the authors collected, two case studies of strikes in aerospace factories, and interviews with a variety of employment relations stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Manfred Elfstrom & Sarosh Kuruvilla, 2014. "The Changing Nature of Labor Unrest in China," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 67(2), pages 453-480, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:67:y:2014:i:2:p:453-480
    DOI: 10.1177/001979391406700207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hurst,William, 2009. "The Chinese Worker after Socialism," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521898874, October.
    2. Simon Clarke & Tim Pringle, 2009. "Can party-led trade unions represent their members?," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 85-101.
    3. Eli Friedman & Ching Kwan Lee, 2010. "Remaking the World of Chinese Labour: A 30‐Year Retrospective," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(3), pages 507-533, September.
    4. Zhang, Lu, 2008. "Lean Production and Labor Controls in the Chinese Automobile Industry in An Age of Globalization1," International Labor and Working-Class History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 73(1), pages 24-44, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Chunyun, 2021. "From insurgency to movement: an embryonic labor movement undermining hegemony in South China," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101456, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Evan Osborne, 2016. "China’s transitioning class identity," China Finance and Economic Review, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Manfred Elfstrom, 2019. "A Tale of Two Deltas: Labour Politics in Jiangsu and Guangdong," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 57(2), pages 247-274, June.
    4. Wenten, Frido, 2017. "Does it matter what workers do? The role of workers' relational agency in the hybridisation of TNC subsidiaries in China and Mexico," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86957, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Li, Chunyun & Liu, Mingwei, 2018. "Overcoming the collective action problems facing Chinese workers: lessons from four protests against Walmart," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 89066, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Dave Lyddon & Xuebing Cao & Quan Meng & Jun Lu, 2015. "A strike of ‘unorganised’ workers in a Chinese car factory: the Nanhai Honda events of 2010," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(2), pages 134-152, March.

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