56. A delegation led by Xu Deming, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, traveled to Yantai to notify Zhang Jun to prepare for a meeting with the delegates.

Early in the morning on October 18, 2006, Zhang Jun finished his night shift and hurried to the entrance of Aoliwei Company, where the female workers were still holding their strike.

Shortly before 9:00 a.m., a secretary from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions’ Department of Organizational Development contacted Zhang Jun with exciting news: “Vice Chairman Xu Deming of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, along with Division Chiefs Chen and Wang and others, boarded a flight to Yantai at 5:00 a.m. This trip is specifically to support the female workers at Aoliwei in their efforts to form a union.” The secretary specifically instructed Zhang Jun: “Please have the relevant materials ready in advance; Vice Chairman Xu plans to meet with you and the female workers’ representatives from the strike.”

Zhang Jun immediately shared the good news with all the female workers, including those still on the job, and everyone was greatly encouraged. He also informed reporter Xiaoxia, who said she would do her best to secure an interview with Vice Chairman Xu. The “Six O’Clock This Morning” column, published that same morning, continued to follow up on the Aoliwei female workers’ strike, and the situation appeared to be moving in a direction favorable to the workers’ rights.

57. The situation took a sudden turn for the worse; due to the influence of false rumors, the leadership of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions was unable to meet with Zhang Jun and the female workers’ representatives.

According to the prior arrangement, Vice Chairman Xu Deming was scheduled to meet with Zhang Jun and representatives of female workers at around 11:00 a.m., but the meeting was delayed.

Reporter Xiaoxia called Zhang Jun and asked, full of doubt, “Have the All-China Federation of Trade Unions officials actually arrived in Yantai, or could there be a misreport?”

Zhang Jun replied with certainty, “The information is correct; a staff member from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions personally notified me.”

Xiaoxia immediately replied, “That’s very strange. The chairperson of the Yantai Municipal Federation of Trade Unions told me that he hadn’t heard of anyone from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions arriving in Yantai.”

Zhang Jun’s heart sank; he sensed a sudden shift in the situation and concluded that something had gone wrong at the Yantai Municipal Federation of Trade Unions that would hinder the female workers’ efforts to defend their rights. He told Xiaoxia that he needed to verify the situation again, then immediately rode his motorcycle to a public phone booth to contact the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. The staff there confirmed that Vice Chairman Xu and his delegation had indeed arrived in Yantai, and expressed surprise that the two sides had not yet met.

Zhang Jun relayed the results of the verification to Xiaoxia.

Xiaoxia then shared some crucial information: “I’ve now confirmed that the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has indeed arrived in Yantai, but according to the information I’ve received, the relevant authorities have informed the Federation that the female workers’ strike was not intended to establish a union at all—they had other motives, and their strike had nothing to do with the demand to form a union.”

Zhang Jun’s foreboding was confirmed. He tried calling the All-China Federation of Trade Unions again, but it was lunchtime, and no one answered the phone. Zhang Jun quickly informed the female workers of this unexpected turn of events, and they were all filled with righteous indignation. Many of the female workers stated outright that the other side had deliberately fabricated claims and distorted the original intent of the strike.Zhang Jun advised everyone that mere accusations and verbal abuse would not reverse the situation. He promised to continue following up with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and to keep everyone informed as soon as he had any news.

At 3:00 p.m. on October 18, Zhang Jun called a staff member of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions from a public phone booth and asked urgently, “Are Chairman Xu and the others still in Yantai? The female workers at Aoliwei hope to meet Chairman Xu. Wasn’t it said that Chairman Xu was going to meet with them?”

A staff member of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions replied, “Chairman Xu and his delegation have already returned to Beijing.”

Zhang Jun was deeply anxious: “Chairman Xu and the others must have been misled by slander and rumors about the female workers while they were in Yantai. Why are they only listening to those people’s side of the story?”

The staff member replied, “I can’t answer your question, but I’ll pass it on to my supervisor right away.”

Zhang Jun returned to the female workers, feeling dejected, and recounted the entire incident exactly as it had happened. Upon hearing the news, the female workers were outraged, and a chorus of condemnation erupted. Zhang Jun, too, felt deeply disappointed. In everyone’s view, if even the leadership of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, having come to Yantai in person, could not push for a resolution to the issue, the female workers’ efforts to form a union seemed to have hit a major roadblock.

58. Upon learning that the All-China Federation of Trade Unions delegation was returning, the female workers resolved to continue their strike.

Seeing Zhang Jun looking downcast, Wang Xinmei stepped forward to comfort him: “Big Brother, it’s okay. We’ve all done our best. But we absolutely cannot let Aoliwei get off scot-free. We’ll keep the strike going at least until October 24—we have to hold out past October 23, the critical inspection date they fear the most!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the other female workers enthusiastically chimed in: “If it comes down to it, we’ll quit this job and walk away—but before we go, we’ll fight to the very end!”

The female workers’ statements put Zhang Jun’s mind at ease. He reflected to himself that this was indeed the case. The workers didn’t have much to fall back on to begin with; the worst that could happen was that they’d have to leave Aoliwei Company, so there was really nothing to fear.

An elderly female worker remarked with a sigh, “Damn the Malego Desert—you can’t count on anyone these days. We have to rely on ourselves. No matter how this strike turns out, we won’t let Aoliwei get off easy before we leave.”

Zhang Jun, now in a better mood, suddenly asked the female workers, “Why aren’t you playing cards anymore?”

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on and immediately began setting up makeshift stalls on both sides of the entrance to Aoliwei Company and playing cards. Zhang Jun himself joined one of their groups to play. Of course, a few coworkers were left “on duty” to keep an eye on Aoliwei Company and prevent new job seekers from entering the building.

58. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions sent a telegram proposing that female workers return to work; Zhang Jun explained the current situation and declined the proposal.

At around 4:00 p.m. on October 18, 2006, a female staff member from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions called Zhang Jun, who was at the site of the strike, and conveyed the following message: “First, have the striking workers return to the factory immediately; the remaining six female workers can seek redress through arbitration later.”

Upon receiving this response, Zhang Jun felt deeply concerned. If they returned to work at this point, the strike would come to an end, the goal of forming a union would be derailed, and the pressure being applied ahead of the company’s crucial inspection on October 23 would dissipate. Aoliwei would gain a breather, and all the efforts the female workers had put into their struggle would go down the drain.At this moment, the shared demands of all the striking female workers must take priority; therefore, this arrangement cannot be accepted for the time being.

Zhang Jun replied to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions: “The female workers’ strike is aimed at forming a union and demanding that their worker representatives return to work immediately—these are all legitimate demands and their rights; I have absolutely no authority to stop them.Please forgive the Aoliwei female workers for being unable to comply with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions’ request. Just this morning, your organization told us you wanted to meet with me and the strike representatives. I truly do not understand why, after coming all the way to Yantai City in Shandong Province to meet with our local government leaders—when it would have taken you only ten minutes by car to reach the Aoliwei factory gate to meet with us—you did not come. Why are you taking only one side of the story?”

After listening to Zhang Jun’s account, the staff member provided a set of contact information (cell phone number and email address) and informed them that they could contact Director Wang of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions regarding follow-up matters, as Director Wang would be responsible for continuing to follow up on the case involving the Aoliwei female workers’ rights. For a considerable period thereafter, the striking female workers and the Aoliwei trade union that was subsequently established maintained an open and ongoing channel of communication with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

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