Steelworkers beat manager to death -- global civil unrest intensifies

The Sidney Morning Herald reports 30,000 Chinese steelworkers protested plans to merge their mill with another company and beat the company's general manager to death. Employees of Tonghua Iron and Steel Group objected to plans for Jianlong Steel to take control of the company. Jianlong Steel, headquartered in Beijing, controlled the company temporarily last year, and employees blame Jianlong for financial problems. Tonghua employees attacked Jianlong's general manager, Chen Guojun, during the protest and beat him to death.

Last Saturday workers occupied a UK wind tubine factory for six consecutive days in protest at plans to shut it down. The prior week employees at New Fabris -- a bankrupt French car-parts supplier -- threatened to blow up their factory unless Renault and Peugeot pay them compensation. Nearly 400 employees occupied the plant demanding the automakers pay nearly R350 000 to each worker. The Telegraph reported the French workers were paid the same week.