Study On The Changes Of The Functions Of Grass-roots Labor Unions At The Early Days Of The Foundation Of The People's Repulbic Of China

The appearance of the labor union aims to form an alliance with the workers for the purpose of maintaining their benefits. It is a non-governmental organization formed by the workers which strikes for and safeguards their rightful benefits. The labor unions of China were born soon after the May Fourth Movement and have played a significant role in maintaining the benefits of the workers in the initial phase since they were established. Later, both the Kuomintang Party and the Communist Party of China have established and exerted leadership on the labor unions in the process of their foundation and development and did something meaningful to strike for the benefits of the workers. During the period of time when the Nanjing National Government ruled the country, a great deal of work has been done by the labor unions under the leadership of both of the two parties to maintain the benefits of the workers. Not only did they fight against the capitalists but they also challenged the government in order to maintain the benefits of the workers. In the early days of foundation of New China in 1949, Chinese labor unions worked in the way as usual, standing by the workers and striking a blow for their benefits. However, due to the theoretical argumentation on the issue of the labor union carried out by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, fundamental changes occurred in the functions of the labor union when the new government reigns over the country especially since Li Lisan, the former official in charge of the business of the National Labor Union, has been accused of syndicalism and removed from office. The role of the labor union turns from maintaining the benefits of the workers to promoting the production of the enterprises, from supporting the workers to helping the administrative'organization to persuade them. Since the public-private joint management of capitalist enterprises in 1956, labor unions have completely played a role of assisting the government or enterprises in training and learning, selecting model workers, activating recreation and sports and the like. Without independence, the labor union observes strictly the arrangements of the organs of the state power and turns from being a representative organization for the workers to an assistant and subordinate department of the government.