Huge China strike peters out as workers cite intimidation
Tens of thousands of employees at a Chinese factory making shoes for Nike, Adidas and others returned to work Monday after one of the country's biggest recent strikes ended, following what campaigners called typical government intimidation.
The Communist Party fears an independent labour movement could threaten its grip on power, so it only allows one government-linked trade union.
But analysts say workers have been newly empowered by a labour shortage turning bargaining power in their favour, and the strike highlighted a wave of activism from older factory personnel nearing retirement.
The dispute broke out at a facility run by Taiwanese firm Yue Yuen, which says it is the world's largest branded footwear manufacturer, producing more than 300 million pairs of shoes last year.
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