Chinese workers strike over Cooper takeover by Apollo

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Shandong, China – Some 5000 workers at the Cooper Chengshan tire joint venture in Shandong, China, are on strike in protest at the US parent company’s takeover by Apollo Tyres of India, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

Apollo announced in June that it would acquire Cooper Tire and Rubber for $2.5 billion (€1.8 billion), making the combined group the seventh largest tire maker in the world.

However, thousands of staff at Cooper Chengshan have gone on strike in protest, South China Morning Post reports a union leader as saying. The workers fear the takeover could in danger their jobs. There is also concern about cultural differences with future Indian bosses.

The newspaper added that the union wants to block the transaction, though the director of the union branch has accepted that such an ambitious demand may not be achievable. He told South China Morning Post that the workers and the union want to at least express their unease and demands and hopefully draw support from the media to block the deal. The union director added that he does not believe Apollo has sufficient strength to support the acquisition.

The cause of the strike, which began 13 July, is unusual in China as protests normally focus on pay and working conditions, South China Morning Post said.

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Article from South China Morning Post