Chinese steel executive threatens mass layoffs, is beaten to death as 30K workers riot

[Liberal_in_LA]

China Steel Executive Killed as Workers and Police Clash

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By DAVID BARBOZA
Published: July 26, 2009

SHANGHAI — China’s state-run press confirmed Monday that a riot broke out at a steel mill in north China Friday evening, leaving the executive of another steel mill dead.

The report, in the English-language China Daily, provided few details on the mayhem, but a report on Saturday by a Hong Kong-based group, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, which broke the story on the riot, said that at least 30,000 workers were involved and that about 100 people were wounded.

The riot, at the Tonghua Iron and Steel Works in Jilin Province in northern China, broke out after a visiting steel executive from a related company threatened mass layoffs at the Tonghua steel mills as part of a major restructuring of the state-owned company, China Daily said.

The riot followed a pattern of massive demonstrations that have taken place in various parts of the country over the past few years, many involving citizens outraged over government corruption or threatened with layoffs or orders to relocate.

The China Daily report said Chen Guojun, the steel executive who was beaten to death, had threatened 3,000 Tonghua steelworkers with layoffs, which he had said could take place within three days. He also had signaled that larger jobs cuts were likely at the struggling steel mill.

The report said the rioters blocked the police, ambulances and government officials from reaching Mr. Chen before he died.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/world/asia/27steelchina.html?_r=1

[fishbulb703]

1. sweet. nt

[Confusious]

2. I'm going to be a heartless bastard and say...

The Chinese know how to deal with greedy corrupt executives. We should learn something from them, though death seems a little harsh. Maybe life in prison, with needles under the fingernails daily.

[MrScorpio]

5. They have the death penalty for corruption convictions in China

Needless to say, there aren't a lot of acquittals over there

[galileoreloaded]

11. Need those organs!!!!!! n/t

[ThomCat]

3. It is nice when workers have a voice.

[comtec]

4. Or at least a club

;)

[dipsydoodle]

6. Sounds a bit over the top

but under such circumstances it can be difficult to judge the actions of others.

[cali]

7. that people here are cheering on an out of control mob because

they murdered "the man", is disgusting.

[JVS]

8. As the chairman said "Dare to think! Dare to act!"

[eShirl]

9. Yay! Mob rule!

:sarcasm:

[dysfunctional press]

10. now THAT'S how to negotiate a labor contract...

:scared:

[Jester Messiah]

12. Tanks in 3..2..1.. [nt]