Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Xiandai Group Cancels Mass Layoff Amid New Deal with Indralair; Fires Workers on Strike
CEO Wang Yueting claims "illegal strike" will not be legitimized by Xiandai
HAZHOU, SHU - 1 July 4279


CEO Wang Yueting speaks to shareholders in Hazhou

Last winter, Xiandai announced that it would be cutting around 36,000 jobs in their airplane manufacturing subsidiary this summer, however, they reversed that decision last week following a new $3.08 billion INS deal reached with Indralair, and further interest in the new X400 commercial jet from foreign firms. The initial announcement, made in December 4278 caused Xiandai workers across the nation to go on strike, demanding a collective contract with their factories to ensure no one can be laid-off without a full year's notice. The company has refused to negotiate with labour unions, and engaged in aggressive union busting and strike breaking through temporary worker replacement. Following last week's announcement, the unions declared their intention to maintain the strike until their demands were met. Xiandai responded by announcing that they would fire any employee who would still participate in the strike as of yesterday. Today, around 4,000 employees have been fired following their decision to maintain the picket line. This move has been met with anger and frustration by labour activists across the country, but Xiandai CEO Wang Yueting justified his company's decision to stockholders at a general meeting today:

This strike is not reasonable. We have reversed the decision to lay off our manufacturing workers, and yet these individuals still feel that this illegal strike is justifiable.
It isn't. We will not legitimize this illegal action, and we are disappointed that some factory managers and unionists would incite working people to participate despite their best interests. We are thankful to the government's Labour Market Deregulation Act which has enabled us the ability to bring this strike to a quick end. We cannot allow these counter-productive forces to stand in the way of the progress of industry.

Factory workers on strike outside the Convention Centre where the stockholders' meeting was held today in Hazhou, Shu

The majority of the approximately 4,000 workers fired today are described as uneducated, low-skill workers, making around 30-40,000 INS per year. A few workers are still maintaining the picket line, despite Xiandai's tough stance, including around 100 workers who descended on the Convention Centre where the stockholders' meeting was held today in Hazhou, Shu. 20-year-old father of two Xuan Zhen, a factory worker in Hazhou, was holding his dismissal notice in one hand and had the other in a fist, raised toward the sky. Struggling to hold back his tears, Xuan said:

They can't do this to us! Does that a**hole in there want to come and tell my kids why there's nothing to eat? Why did they [the government] let this happen? What am I supposed to do? Let my kids starve? How will the Chancellor take responsibility?

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 29 September 2017.