The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-11-19
SHANGHAI POST OFFICE
WORKERS GO ON STRIKE

The Postal Employees Labor
Union, one Of the "seven big" in
Shanghai, has been presenting wage
increase and other demands to the
Marking government; four times
since last spring. The Ministry of
Communications, however, repeated
ly ignored and sidetracked the de-
mands, though the cost of living in
Shanghai has advanced enormously.
This, coupled up with the reduction
of a death gratuity, cuts in the
wages of the employees engaged OH
draft desks, as we'll as the deep
I sympathy with the Picking Postal
Workers Union strike declared on
the previous day against the ham
ding of local Japanese imperialist
daily paper, precipitated the crisis.
The crisis eliminated in q gen.
eral tie-up on October 2, when 5000
employees of the lower ranks struck
work and the entire Shanghai postal
service system halted. The strikers
gathered in the compound of the
Central Office and fiery speeches
were delivered. The municipal po-
lice, outside, were powerless to in
tervene. Hence, in addition to the
riot squad, a detachment of the
Chinese Garrison was summoned.
The combined armed forces,
namely, the imperialist or so-called
international Settlement, and the
/ Kuomintang or so-called Chinese
nationalist forces, divided their
spheres of influence" as follows:
The Kuomintang soldiers dispersed
the mass meeting of the strikers
and elected them from the post Of
flee compound with brutal force,
while the imperialist police and
specials" received the strikers on
the street and gave them an addi-
tional beating-up as we'll as stripped
off the uniforms from the letter
carriers and then chased them away
half naked or arrested them.
Atrocities.
The joining of the Kuomintang
soldiers with the imperialist police
and Specials" and the atrocities
inflicted upon the striking Chinese
aroused Indignation among the
masses.
Immediately, the Strike Commit
tee issued a manifesto of protest
against the armed forces, brutali-
ties and called upon the masses for
support of the strike. "The action
of the Kuomintang and the imper-
ialist police is a direct insult to our
national dignity" declared the
manifesto. Further, it urged the
strikers not to be afraid but rather
become holder end remain firm to
fight for the attainment of the full
list of the demands, which were as
follows:
| l. That the wage system be re-
vised throughout the country &C.
cording to uniform increase of
1888 per cent in each successive
rank and Shanghai employees to be
given an allowance in addition.
! 2. That the postal regulations
be revised within a year and that
representatives of the employees
union be admitted to the committee
appointed to carry out the revision.
8. That the postal authorities
permit the organization of a Ma
tional Postal Labor Union, and al
low $4,000 for its inauguration,
and subsidy of $500 monthly.
A. That the postal authorities
issue $4,000 to the Shanghai Postal
Employees Union and increase the
monthly subsidy to 5000.
S. That each employee be- dis
missed only with the consent Of his
union.
6. That the members of the
Stondinr Committee of the Postal
Employees Union be exempted from
post office duties end be given the
usual psv and promotion.
T. That The postal authorities is
sue $1,000 for the opening of a
school for employees children, and
5000 per month for its maintenance.
s. That an adequate solatium be
given to the family of a deceased
cmploye.
8. That no limit be placed on
sicl, leave, and medical expenses be
borne by the post office authorities.
10.-That the new year bonus of
one months pay be issued to those
having less than three years SER
vice and bonus of two months
pay be issued to those having more
than three years service.
IL. That all employees be given
holidays on Sundays and other gen.
eral holidays and that extra pay be
issued for work on these days.
, Five other demands of minor ma.
ture, one demanding restoration Of
wage cut on draft desk workers.
Mass Support.
. The response of mass support
was prompt. Thus the next day
sympathetic mass meetings were
held by seven Shanghai labor
unions. Other labor unions pledged
Z
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