Thursday, September 22, 2011

Location: Small Ceremonial Chamber (Kleiner Festsaal), University of Vienna (Dr. Karl-Lueger-Ring 1, 1010 Vienna)

19.00-21.30: Conference Opening Event

Opening and welcome remarks by Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik (University of Vienna) and Peter Fleissner (Transform Austria | Paper)

Public Penal Discussion: „Labour Disputes in globalised China - Parallels and connections with Europe“

• Chang Kai (Renmin University, Beijing)
• Pun Ngai (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
• Suki Chung (Labour Action China, NGO)
• Carlos Polenus (ITUC)

Chair: Daniel Fuchs (University of Vienna)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Location: Renner-Institute Vienna, Europasaal (Hoffingergasse 33, 1120 Vienna)

08.30-09.15: Registration

09.15-10.30: Opening Remarks Sebastian Schublach/Renner-Institute, Walter Baier/Transform Europe, Georg Egger/Grüne Bildungswerstatt Wien, Margarete Grandner Department of Development Studies

Keynote Lecture:

• Anita Chan (University of  Technology, Sydney): International Trade Union Movement, China's Labor Protests and Prospects for Collective Bargaining

Chair: Agnes Schick-Chen (University of Vienna)

10.45 -12.45: Panel 1 „Changing working conditions and labour disputes in China – Perspectives on the Chinese working class“

• Jonathan Unger (Australian National University): The Evolving Conditions of Chinese Migrant Workers and the Effects on Labour Disputes | Abstract
• Huilin Lu (Peking University): In-formalization (de-normalization) of Construction Industry in China: its causes, current situation, and consequences | Abstract
• Jisu Huang (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences): Several problems in understanding the presentday Chinese working class | Abstract
• Suyu Liu (University of Oxford): Adverse-direction Migration of Chinese Mingong and its Relation to Unemployment in European Agriculture: A Preliminary Research | Abstract

Chair: Rolf Geffken (Labour Institute ICOLAIR Hamburg)

12.45-14.00: Lunch

14.00-16.00: Panel 2 „New Perspectives on Recent Labour Disputes in China“

• Tim Pringle (University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies): The Forces of Labour in China: Constraining Capital? | Abstract
• Mary Gallagher (University of Michigan) & Wang Kan (China Institute of Industrial Relations): Changes in the World's Workshop. The Demographic, Social, and Political Factors Behind China's Labor Movement | Abstract
• Chih-Jou Jay Chen (Academia Sinica, Taiwan): Growing Labor Disputes in China: A Comparison of Workers’ Protests in Different Sectors | Abstract
• Xuebing Cao (Kelee University) & Roger Seifert (Wolverhampton University): Chinese workers on strike: a study of recent Japanese car factory employees’ strike action in Guangdong | Abstract

Chair: Felix Wemheuer (University of Vienna)

16.00-16.30: Coffee Break

16.30-18.30: Panel 3 „Activists’ Perspectives on Labour Disputes and the Future of Global Cooperation of Workers’ Organisations I“

• Suki Chung (Labor Action China, NGO): Solidarity on Labour between Hong Kong, China and Europe: The Experience on Gemstone Campaign of Chinese Silicose Workers | Abstract
• Peter Franke (Forum Worlds of Labour): „Forum Worlds of Labour – China and Germany“: Objectives and projects | Abstract
• Gianni Rinaldini (FIOM-CGIL): Experiences of Italian workers’ struggles | Abstract
• Wolfgang Greif (GPA-djp): Labour Union Perspectives in China's Transforming Economy | Abstract
• Claudia Bonk (Südwind): “Stop Toying Around!” – A Campaign for fair working conditions in toy industry | Abstract

Chair: Dominique Bari (L'Humanité)

18.30-19.15: Free for Networking

19.15: Dinner

Last update: 14.09.2011 (subject to modifications and amendments)

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Location: Renner-Institute Vienna, Europasaal (Hoffingergasse 33, 1120 Vienna)

09.00-11.00: Parallel Workshops I

Workshop (A): „Chinese Migrants in Europe“

• Ya-Han Chuang (Paris IV Sorbonne University): When Morality meets Right: Undocumented Chinese Migrant Workers’ Struggle for Legalization in France | Abstract
• Bin Wu & Jackie Sheehan (University of Nottingham): Immigration status, mobility and vulnerability of Chinese migrant workers in the UK: findings from the East Midlands on the impact of recession and PBS | Abstract
• Antonella Ceccagno (University of Bologna): Time space compression and migrant’s vulnerability dilatation. The sleep in workshops of Chinese migrants in Italy | Abstract

Chair: Lena Springer (University of Vienna)

Workshop (B): „The Chinese State, autonomous labour organizations and political-economic transformation“                    

• Frido Wenten (University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies) & Daniel Fuchs (University of Vienna): Changing Class-Relations in China: Prospects of Workers’ Autonomous Agency | Abstract
• Keming Yang (University of Durham):Which side are you on? China’s Communist state between the capitalists and the workers | Abstract
• Florian Butollo (University of Frankfurt): Industrial Upgrading in the Pearl River Delta – the end of „cheap labour“? | Abstract

Chair: Ulrich Brand (University of Vienna)

11.00-11.30: Coffee Break

11.30-13.30: Parallel Workshops II

Workshop (C): „Rule of Law or Rule by Law? – Changing Labour Law in China“

• Chang Kai (Renmin University): From Individual to Collective –Characteristics and Conditions of the Collectivisation of Chinese Labour Relations | Abstract
• Astrid Lipinsky (University of Vienna): From nügong to dagongmei: Chinese women coping with the right to work | Abstract
• Rolf Geffken (Labour Institute ICOLAIR Hamburg): Collective Bargaining, Individual Rights & State Control – A Comparative Analysis of German & Chinese Labour Law | Abstract
• Miao Han (Durham University): A Comparative Study of Working Women in Protection between China and Europe: A Legal Perspective | Abstract

Chair: Xiliang Feng (Capital University of Economy and Business)

Workshop (D): „Activists’ Perspectives on Labour Disputes and the Future of Global Cooperation of Workers’ Organisations II“            

• Lau Ka Mei (Chinese Working Women Network; NGO):The Voice and Demands of Women Workers in China | Abstract
• Monina Wong (ITUC/GUF Hong Kong Liasion Office): TBA | Abstract
• Wolfgang Schaumberg (Forum Worlds of Labour): Developments in China and Germany: Another world is possible? | Abstract
• Mario Becksteiner (University of Vienna, member of the workers’ council): Social Partnership in (the) Crisis!? | Abstract 
• Herman Dworczak (Austrian Social Forum): Experiences of the WSF and ESF with actions for solidarity and international cooperation | Abstract

Chair: Eva Prenninger (Weltumspannend arbeiten)

13.30-15.00: Lunch

15.00-17.00: Panel 4 „General Perspectives on Political-Economic                             Developments in China and Europe“

• Thomas Sablowski (University of Frankfurt): Workers’ Struggles and Capitalist Crisis Management in Europe | Abstract
• Jiankang Xu (Chinese Academy od Social Sciences): Spanning the Caudine Forks and China’s Road towards Socialism | Abstract
• Andrea Komlosy (University of Vienna): Global Commodity Chains and Work Organisation. The Example of the Textile and Clothing Industry in the Shanghai Region | Abstract Paper
• Paolo Do (Queen Mary University of London / Free Metropolitan University): The bio-political economy of knowledge. Cognitive capitalism, struggle and higher education between China and Europe | Abstract

Chair: Sebastian Schublach (Renner-Institut)

17.00-18.15: Keynote Lecture & Concluding Discussion

• Pun Ngai (Hong Kong Polytechnic University): A New Age of World Factory: Global Production and the Struggle of Foxconn Workers in China

Chair: Josef Baum (Transform Austria)

Last update: 14.09.2011 (subject to modifications and amendments)