Hong Kong protests: why trade unions have mushroomed as demonstrators push for workers’ rights
- For years, the city’s labour movement has been dominated by pro-Beijing voices deeply supportive of the government
- But the demonstrations lay the groundwork for employees in dozens of industries to organise, some for the first time
Rebel City: Hong Kong’s Year of Water and Fire is a new book of essays by the South China Morning Post chronicling the political crisis triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill which marked its first anniversary this week.
News emerged this week that the leader of a new civil servant union which mobilised government staff against the extradition bill has been demoted at the Labour Department. This is the latest excerpt from the book which explains how a trade union movement has erupted amid the year-long unrest as protesters look for ways to sustain the momentum.
Michael Ngan Mo-chau was a student leader at Chinese University (CUHK) in 2012 when he co-wrote an orientation booklet for freshmen, encouraging them to participate fully in activities on school governance and civil movements.
He told them it was not good enough for them to sit on their hands while others spoke up.
“Your days in university will shape your thoughts and determine your future,” wrote Ngan, then a final-year student in government and public administration. “So treasure your time here and keep reflecting on yourself.”
There used to be only one voice, and it was pro-China … now, these new unions can offer a very different voice
While at university, Ngan helped to organise a boycott of classes to demand the scrapping of a citywide school curriculum aimed at nurturing patriotism. So his peers and teachers were not entirely surprised when, in July 2019, the 29-year-old civil servant initiated the first rally by government workers over the extradition bill crisis, risking the wrath of his employer.