The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 11, 1927, Page 7

Historical Sketch of the Chinese Labor Movement A Decade of Progress In Eight Years UE to the widespread interest in the great revolutionary upheaval of the Chinese masses, this sketch of the history of events, is particularly of interest to every worker. The tremendous growth of the Labor movément in China should serve as inspira- bor.—Editor. bor. / ¥ + * The following sketch of the history of the Chinese Labor Movement is the result of notes made in an interview with the Chairman of the All-China Labor Federation, Sou Cheu-tsen, who is also the new minister of labor in the Nationalist government, and with the secretary of the All-China Labor Federa- tion, Li Li-san. The 1919. It arose during the great anti-Japanese move- ment, protesting against the “21 points,” known as the “Fourth of May Movement.” This began as a students’ organiza- tions of workers had existed previously among the railway workers on the Peking-Mukden line, and the Peking-Hankow line, but had not yet become prop- erly union movement. These embryonic groups were transformed into trade unions during 1919. At the same time in Shanghai there broke out the strikes of textile workers and dockers, who were in Japanese employ, 20,000 in all; while in Hongkong occurred a Jarge metal workers’ strike. These were successful, and imparted a great impetus at the La- bor Movement elsewhere. During this time the trade unions in Kwantung Province made especial! prog- ress, in Canton alone their number increasing from 20 to 100 during 1919. This year may therefore be called the real of the Chinese Labor Movement. Among the most important influences affecting the course of development of the Labor Movement, Chinese trade union movement dates from movement. Some embryonic a trade beginning were the following: 1-—The Russian known to the Chinese masses through several weekly propaganda papers. 2.—The rising Chinese Nationalist movement, which began to absorb masses into its ranks. A seamen’s union was organized’ at that time by the Kufmintang; there existed the Social-Republican party, and also many anarchist groups. The political movement was especially strong in Canton. 3.—The workers had lived through several insur- rections which had failed; from these, the lesson of the necessity of strong, centralized organization had penetrated large masses. 4.—Organization of the Chinese Communist Party, which furnished a central direction for the movement; this was done through a special organ, called the “Secretariat of the Chinese Labor Move- ment,” with branches in Shanghai, Canton and Han- kow. 4 : After 1919, the trade unions grew steadily. But it was not until 1922, when another national wave of struggles broke out, that the First All-China Con- gress was held. First among the battles of 1922, was the great Hongkong Seamen’s strike, which was declared on January 12th, and lasted 56 days. Before it ended in the granting of the workers’ de- mands, all Hongkong labor had been drawn into the struggle, in a General Strike which included the railwaymen. The successful outcome of this strug- gle stimulated the workers of the efitire country. The centre of the 1922 movement was the Rail- waymen’s organization particularly that of the Peking-Hankow line, which had 16 branches with 18,000 members. A successful strike on this line was quickly followed by railway strikes throughout Central and Northern China; Peking-Mukden line, Shanchou-Haichow line, ete. Through this move- ment 50,000 railwaymen were organized iin the union. In the Province of Hupeh, a General Trade Union (Provincial Federation) was established with 23 trade unions, and 35,000 members. In Honan Provinee, after a long strike of 15,000 miners of An-yuen, the movement was established, with 25 trade unions in which were 40,000 members. The Shanghai movement was very active, with strikes of seamen, silk filature workers, postmen, and others, All these strikes, except that of the revolution, which was made By EARL R, BROWDER seamen, were, however, unsuceessful, and the move- ment there received a setback, only 20,000 members being organized as a result of the 1922 movement. On May 1,°1922, the First All-China Labor Con- gress was held in Canton, on the initiative of the “Secretariat of the Chinese Labor Movement.” A membership of 230,000 was represented. The most important resolution at this congress was that pro- viding for the industrial form of organization. It had been decided at the First Congress to con- vene the Second Congress at Hankow on May Ist, 1923. Bui on February 7th, occurred the massacre in Hankow of the railway union leaders and others by Wu Pei-fu, and white terror reigned throughout China. and ordered by British imperialists, who were finan- cing Wu Pei-fu. The immediate occasion for it was the creation of the General Union of Railwaymen on the Peking-Hankow line; Wu Pei-fu dissolved the union, whereupon a general strike broke out, This massacre and repression was planned A Chinese Anti-British Poster. which was joined by all Hankow workers. An All- 3ut the movement was crushed by the army of Wu Pei-fu, who executed China strike was imminent. 43 leaders, imprisoned unknown hundreds, and dis- solved all trade unions, Even sympathizing schools were closed, and active unionists were driven from the factories and railroads, when not imprisoned and shot. During this reign of terror the entire move- ment was crushed, except at Canton, where the trade unions remained intact. Until September, 1924, there was a period of re- action. Then the movément began to revive again. On January 18, 1925, occurred the beginning of a series of strikes in Shanghai, Tsintao, and other cities. These were all successful, and regained some of the losses of hours, wages, and conditions which had been lost in the year and a half of reactien. The meriod of inaction after the defeat of 1923, had been made use of by the workers to assimilate the the There occurred during this period a great change among the leaders of the Kuomintang, who finally had come to realize the vastly important role of the working the Chinese National revolution. The masses themselves had achieved political conscious- ness, and learned the necessity of strong trade unions, International relations had been established during the struggle, when the Russian and Japanese trade unigns sent telegrams of solidarity, and the Chinese trade unions had addressed themselves to the trade union movement of the world. On May 1, 1925, the All-China Labor Congress was held at Canton, in an atmosphere of a rising movement. More than 600,000 members were represented. At this congress, the All-China Labor Federation was definitely formed; theory, tactics, and organizational methods firmly established, and a recognized central leadership set up. Quickly thereafter followed the massacre of 30th of May at Shanghai, and the Shankee massacre at Canton, on June 23. lessons of past experiences, also class in Second These occurrences were the signal ‘for a national upheaval. Strikes broke out everywhere. The most notable of these was the glorious strike of the Hongkong and Canton work- ers against the British, and the blockade of Hong- kong for more than a year. In Shanghai, more than 360,000 workers came into the trade unions. Great movement sprang up at Dairen, Tientsin, Tsintao, Nanking, Kiukiang, Hankow. Living and working conditions were everywhere improved. In Shanghai a general wage increase of 15% was secured. Not only the industrial workers, but also the artisans throughout China, flocked into the movement. The Third All-China Labor Congress was held on May 1, 1926, in Canton. Already there were 1,200,- 000 members, Concrete resolutions were adopted on all problems of the movement. The movement after May 30th had raised the level of the entire working class. Previously, the political side of the trade unions had not been firm; now the trade unions were deep in the political struggle and leading ‘it. Active and permanent contact had been established with the International Labor Movement. The move- ment had become mature. Militarist agents of imperialism still tried to crush the rising trade union movement, especially at Tientsin, Tsintao, Shanghai and Mukden. But steady and rapid progress continued and continues up to day. The masses of all China had been won to the trade unions and for the revolution. The Northern Expedition of the Revolutionary Armies was prepared by the great national strike movement following May 30. This was the basis of the military victories, which resulted in the oceupa- tion of the Yangtse Valley, the capture of Nanking and Shanghai; and the present drive toward Pek- ing. When the revolutionary army entered Shang- hai, for example, they found the city already policed by the Workers’ Guards, and an administration jointly established by the trade unions, commerical ussociations, and students’ unions, ‘already’ function- ing. This is a general and very brief review of the history of the Chinese labor movement results, which in Europe or America would have taken decades to uccomplish, have been accomplished in China in a few years. The demands of the trade unions have gone through the whole scale, from the most elemen- tary economic demands up to participation in gov. ernment and management of industry. And these highest demands are now being realized, with Com- rade Sou Cheu-tsen in charge of the Jabor ministry, and the trade unions already participating in the administration of the railways.