National security law: Hong Kong activists hope to get 60,000 labour union members to vote on strike
- Organisers say that if 60 per cent of 60,000 workers vote for action to oppose the legislation, they will go ahead
- But Government Employees Association says unions calling for strike violate job rules, while Hospital Authority chairman warns of follow-up measures
Hong Kong activists are hoping that at least 60,000 labour union members will come out to vote for a strike in an unofficial referendum on the proposed national security law on Saturday, even though the unions that have agreed to take part have only 14,000 members.
The referendum is being organised by 30 unions, including the Union for New Civil Servants, the Social Workers’ General Union and the Public Relations and Communications Union. The Secondary School Students Action Platform, backed by political party Demosisto, is also one of the organisers.
Backers said that if 60,000 or more workers came out to vote and if 60 per cent of them voted for a strike to oppose the proposed legislation, they would go ahead with an industrial action.
But the 30 unions organising the referendum only have about 14,000 members in total. The organisers hoped more people would come out on Saturday to sign up to become members and cast their ballots.
“I am very confident about this,” said Vic Tse, chairwoman of the Public Relations and Communications Union. “Hongkongers never disappointed us in the past year.”