No Sweat protests trial of Chinese trade unionists
6.00 - 7.00 Wednesday 15 January
Chinese Embassy, Portland Place
(Tubes: Oxford Circus, Regent's Park)

No Sweat, the anti-sweatshop campaign, and Chinese activists will be picketing the Chinese Embassy to mark the first day of the trial of union activists, Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang on January 15. They face charges of subversion against the state which can carry the death penalty.

We will also be protesting against Article 23 – a proposal to reduce workers rights in Hong Kong to the (non-existent) level of those of mainland Chinese. If this proposal becomes law, in defiance of guarantees offered at ‘hand-over’ in 1997, Hong Kong trade unionists could face the same draconian penalties as Yao and Xiao.

Liaoyang labour activists Yao and Xiao were arrested last March for their leading roles in the four-year campaign against corruption and bankruptcy at the Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory. After their 9-month detention with no formal charges, they have only now been charged with subversion and a trial date set. -- they were originally arrested for organising illegal protests!

The families of Yao and Xiao have been visited everyday by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and warned not to take part in any demonstration on the worker’s behalf. In an attempt to keep the workers families from publicizing the workers cause and seeking support, local authorities have the home phones of both families cut off from incoming calls.

China has the biggest labour movement in the world and nearly the lowest wage rates. Making independent unions illegal and terrorising activists is part of the strategy of the PRC to attract capitalist sweatshop giants such as Nike. Union rights are human rights. International solidarity is key to show Chinese and Hong Kong workers that they are not alone, and the Chinese government that the world is watching.