Thousands of workers at a Shenzhen factory which was once the world's biggest maker of artificial trees clashed with police yesterday after they refused to call off their week-long strike.
According to a worker, police had briefly detained nearly 100 workers - most of them women - at the Bao
lishun plastics factory in Longgang district after they refused to go back to work. They were later released after questioning. At least one worker refused to obey the police order and was seen beaten by four officers. She was taken away in a police car, her colleagues said.
Factory management warned the workers yesterday morning that it would fire those who continued their industrial action. But the workers said they would not yield to the threat.
They have been on strike since May 30. The workers were not happy with the long working hours and claimed the company was trying to lay off long-term employees without offering compensation.
'They refuse to renew contracts with experienced workers and only offer short-term contracts to new recruits,' a worker said. 'We believe the company wants to get rid of us because it's been losing money. If they want to lay us off, they should pay compensation.'