Some workers at Honda auto parts plant return to work
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A strike at a Honda parts supply factory in south China's Guangdong Province entered its second week Tuesday, though some strikers have agreed to return to work, local authorities said.
However, Honda China said Tuesday that car production has so far not been affected. Previous strikes at Honda's parts plants in China have halted the Japanese company's auto production.
Nearly 200 of Atsumitec Auto Parts' (Foshan) nearly 230 workers went on strike on July 12 demanding a wage increase of 500-yuan (73.52 U.S. dollars).
"As of Tuesday night, over 20 workers have signed agreements promising to return to work and another 40 workers have orally promised to resume working," said Zhong Zhenwen, an official with the government of Shishan Township, Nanhai District in Foshan, where the plant is located.
He added that the government has sent representatives to urge local workers to end the strike.
However, Wang Haitao, a labor representative, told Xinhua that only some ten local strikers have signed the agreement to return to work and accept wage increase offers the plant made Friday, which workers said was far less than the amount they demanded.
"More than 30 local workers did not show up at today's strike, because they were told by officials in their community or villages that they were not allowed to participate in the strike," said Wang.
According to Wang, the board chairman of the Japan-based Atsumitec Auto Parts has flown to Foshan and held a two-hour negotiating session with three labor representatives.
Strikers compromised by withdrawing previous requests demanding apologies from Japanese employees and that management terminate some staff members, but are insisting on the pay rise, Wang said.
The two sides scheduled another meeting for 9 a.m. Wednesday.
However, workers were not optimistic about Wednesday's negotiations as they heard from employees of Honda's other suppliers that the company planned to fire them and hire new workers.
Also, Atsumitec Auto Parts (Foshan) refused Xinhua's request for an interview.
Striking workers were infuriated when the plant hired nearly 100 replacement workers Saturday to allow production to resume.
The two sides twice held talks earlier but failed to reach an agreement.
The factory belongs to Japan-based Atsumitec Co. Ltd. and produces auto gearbox parts for Honda Motor Co. Ltd., as well as other companies.
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