The 12th day of ironworkers strike

Today is the 12th day of the ironworkers strike, and news said they will continue tomorrow with a protest ending at the government headquarters. Many construction site workers join in the strike, making 1/4 of the sites not in operation. (Well, it also keeps raining in HK these two weeks.)

The ironworkers' demand is simple -- reasonable wage and working hours.

To date, daily wage of ironworkers have dropped from around HK$1200 to HK$1300 before 1997 to around HK$600 since SARS in 2003. Workers of racial minority are even earning as low as HK$300 per day. With inflation and the "best economy in 20 years", there's no sight of any "increase" of salary of the ironworkers. (I am very hesitated to use the word "increase" as the ironworkers are only asking a daily wage of HK$950, still lower than the highest point.)

On the other side, the business association refuses to give in, making the negotiation almost a mission impossible. (Oh, forgot to note, there's no such thing as "collective bargaining" for workers in HK. International labour rights groups and trade unions describe HK as an "uncivilized society".) Many workers of course are facing financial problems now, and the unions are planning to set up a fund to support their living in the time being.

Here's the ironworkers' strike statement:

忍了十年，扎鐵佬實在忍不下去，今天要企出來爭取尊嚴，爭取公道。

經濟復甦，物價 上升，但少數扎鐵商壟斷整個市場，不斷壓低扎鐵工資。我們的人工已經跌了一半，只有600多元；工時增長了一小時至9小時。我們不是工作奴隸，不要再受老 闆剝削，我們要爭取合理工資、合理工時！另外，統計處指我們每日有1131元，為何我們實質只有五六百？我們要求政府徹查中間是否有人食價，是否有人剝削 工人血汗工資！

過去多年，老闆不斷欺壓我們：拖欠薪金、欠供強積金、剝削假期、剝削休息時間、隱暪工傷。為了養家，我們只好啞忍。但我們越沉默，奸商就吸越多的血！我們的憤怒已經不能遏止，今天要向奸商清算舊帳！政府必須正視建築行業的問題，嚴懲無良僱主！

罷工了十二天，扎鐵佬團結一致，爭取合理的權益。我們要求政府協助斡旋，重開勞資談判，解決今次勞資糾紛。如果政府拒絕繼續斡旋，就是失職！就是不負責任！

十二天顯示出我們的堅忍及毅力，我們會堅持到底，直到爭取合理工資、合理工時！工人團結必勝！

Hope you can support a very minimal wish as well.