Abstract :
Although the Chinese government has claimed to be pursuing
tripartism for labour relations, the non-judicial resolution of interest conflict
in enterprises is largely a process of quadripartite interaction. In
addition to the government and employers, the trade unions and workers
are separate players: labour strikes in China are always launched by unorganized
workers rather than by trade unions, whose task is to defuse the situation.
Such a quadripartite process is dominated by the government, with
the trade union playing a mediating role, not only between workers and
the government but also between workers and employers. The process
involves certain explicit and implicit rules, as well as distinct dynamics.
This research examines the institutional and social basis of quadripartite
interaction and how it led to the settlement of strikes. It demonstrates that
although it can effectively defuse workers’ collective action, a quadripartite
process of conflict resolution reflects a low degree of institutionalization of
industrial relations in China.
