Re: [Marxism] Learning about China from media accounts

[Marvin Gandall <marvgandall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Walter wrote:

> Similarly, Anita Chan's most interesting report on China's trade unions
> contains this significant element, also not the kind we normally read
> on Marxmail, but a hopeful sign nevertheless:

> http://www.japanfocus.org/products/topdf/2217
> ..The ACFTUâs confrontation with Wal-Mart has opened up a means for
> reformers to
> operate in future, and has set a precedent for Chinese workers to
> take on their employers and to demand union branches. ..Under Chinaâs
> labor law and the
> present political situation, they may find this politically feasible
> and more productive than fighting to set up autonomous trade unions
> as advocated by China Labor Bulletin and some Western trade unions
> that call on China to permit autonomous trade unions.
===================================
This is why the unionization of the Walmart stores could be potentially
significant for Chinese and US workers, and not to be dismissed out of hand.
But there is only the official shell of a union there now, and the Chinese
leadership will be very careful about losing foreign investment and creating
precedents for workers in Chinese-owned enterprises. This should become more
clear, however, when details are made known about the powers which the union
will have at Walmart.

Louis has already commented on Will Hutton's Guardian reference to to
one-party rule and the lack of democratic political rights as not being
indicative that the mode of production is not capitalist. The Chinese
leadership was very influenced when it embarked on its reforms by the "Asian
Tiger" model of development in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia,
all of whom relied on authoritarian one-party states to maintain stability
and facilitate the consolidation and financing of large private or
jointly-owned  firms capable of competing in world markets.





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