HK metalworkers in Macau stop work to support strike
Unionists and strikers visit enclave to drum up support
About 100 Hong Kong bar benders working in Macau downed tools to support the marathon strike in the city, as striking construction workers and labour unions visited Macau building sites yesterday.
Confederation of Trade Unions members and striking bar benders left for Macau at about 6am in the hope of mobilising more workers to join the industrial action, which began two weeks ago.
They chanted slogans outside the sites of The Venetian Macau, the Arch of Triumph and MGM Grand Macau, urging workers to join their cause.
About 50 Nepali labourers working for Hong Kong contractors in Macau were among those who stopped work.
Four workers at the construction site of Wynn Resorts returned to Hong Kong and joined the sit-in protest outside a construction site at Kau Pui Lung Road, Ho Man Tin.
One worker, Tung Shiu-lung, 58, said: 'I went to work in Macau two years ago. Though my present job is quite good and I get HK$1,000 a shift, I want to offer my brothers in Hong Kong my support.'
Unionist Sung Chi-tat said: 'The trip was satisfactory as we won over a lot of workers there.'
But a Macau police officer warned the unionists their action might constitute an illegal demonstration, though he did not try to stop them.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, about 100 protesters gathered at Charter Garden at about 11am and marched to Government House in support of the strikers. They represented more than 30 Hong Kong workers' unions, university students' unions, concern groups, political parties and religious groups.
As they neared the gate of the Government House, they were warned by police officers.
Legislator for the Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre Leung Yiu-chung said he was disappointed about the police action.
'We are just trying to voice our concern in a peaceful manner,' he said. 'I do not see why police have to set a protest area so far away from Government House.
'The government has the responsibility to mediate between the workers and the employers. It has not done enough to draw contractors back to the negotiating table. We urge the government to help set up a meeting between workers and employers as soon as possible.'
CTU organising secretary Poon Man-hon said they had already raised HK$80,000 to finance the strikers' transport and food expenses.
He said: 'HK$20,000 is from the Professional Teachers' Union and the rest is from members of the public. We will continue our strike at the construction site in Ho Man Tin.'
The union also plans to protest outside the Construction Association today to call for a pay rise for construction workers.
'The association should take up its social responsibility by raising the salary scales for construction workers and persuade the Hong Kong Bar-bending Contractors Association to go back to the negotiation table,' Mr Poon said.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said they were working to set up a meeting for the two parties to resume negotiations, but no date had been fixed.
A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office said it had no comment on the matter.
