New issue of Socialist《社会主义者》magazine

Latest issue of the Chinese socialist quarterly reports on China’s strike wave and the struggle for independent grassroots unions

chinaworker.info

Issue 7 of Socialist《社会主义者》magazine, produced by supporters of the cwi in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, is now available. Our cover story by Chen Mo is the strike movement that shook China in May-July. The most significant feature of these struggles has been the calls, repeated by strikers from Dalian to Tianjin to Guangzhou, for ‘restructured’ trade unions and ‘grassroots’ representation. The Chinese government and its puppet union ACFTU must now change its methods in the face of these strikes. If it flatly refuses workers’ demands for grassroots unions it risks losing all control over the process. However, this does not mean the despotic regime is prepared to concede genuine trade union rights. As our editorial explains:

“The main plank of this ‘new’ policy are some superficial and still unclear gestures in the direction of workplace elections. The aim is to provide a safety valve for workers’ discontent, a mechanism to release pressure but not provide workers with a real means to fight. Some scope for workplace elections will be granted. But the regime will want to keep this within strict limits, to fence each workplace off as hermetically sealed units, and prevent genuine grassroots structures emerging.”

Also in this issue, Zuo Ren looks at Hong Kong’s democracy movement after the June betrayal of the Democratic Party in voting for the government’s fake reform package. The recent environmental struggle in Hong Kong to protect pristine coastal areas is examined by Xiao Fei.

This issue includes international coverage and reports from cwi sections in Germany, Bolivia and Britain. Our feature article is on the life and thoughts of Leon Trotsky, 70 years after his assassination by a Stalinist agent.

The magazine is produced with the help of volunteers who brave China’s censorship laws and worsening state crackdown upon left-wing and socialist critics. Donations are needed to support this project. The magazine can be ordered (price including postage 30HKD, or outside China €3.50 including postage). Order from cwi.china@gmail or use our Paypal function.

In Hong Kong Socialist magazine is also available at Kubrick (Yau Ma Tei), HK Reader (Mong Kok) and People’s Community (Causeway Bay).

Please note: This issue is only available in Chinese language, simplified and traditional editions.