New unions hope to loosen hold of pro-govt parties

A counter set up by a new union representing event managing professionals to attract new members. Photo: RTHK

Chris Ng of Railway Power, a new union for MTR staff, says they want to fight for better working conditions. Photo: RTHK

Chris Ng of Railway Power talks to RTHK's Jimmy Choi

New labour unions have started sprouting up in Hong Kong since the protests started in June and many of the organisers of these new unions on Wednesday used the New Year day march to hold a membership drive to attract new members.



New unions, representing sectors ranging from construction and catering to the MTR, are seen as a backlash against the existing unions, many of which are controlled by pro-government parties.



The newly-formed unions set up stalls in Southorn Playground and Chater Garden to woo new members.



Chris Ng, the vice-chairman of Railway Power, a new union for MTR staff, said he hopes the union can help the rail staff fight for better working conditions and to support the ongoing anti-extradition movement.



Ng, who does railway maintenance, said he formed the union with some like-minded colleagues in November, and they have recruited around 300 members so far.



He also told RTHK's Jimmy Choi that he hoped the new union can counter the influence of the existing pro-establishment group.



Another organiser, Sam, who was helping out for his new union for construction workers said they hope they can secure control of the Legco functional constituency seat representing his sector, during the Legco poll in September.



A woman who was helping to set up a new union for people in the marketing and sales industry said their sector doesn't have a union and so they want to form one to fight for the workers' welfare. The organiser, who didn't give her name, said currently their sector is represented by a pro-government lawmaker and they want to change that.



Some of the people signing up to join the new unions also revealed that they want to change their work environments.



Sze, a kindergarten teacher, has joined a new union and is helping to recruit more people. She said joining a union should be a right for every worker and during the current protest, when general strikes are called it is better to have a union to organise such actions.



A woman surnamed See, a worker in the sourcing industry, said she was interested in joining a new union because she wants to be able to vote for an industry representative in Legco to represent her and stand up for Hong Kong people.



She said she was indifferent to politics in the past, but this social movement has made her become more involved in it. She also said people in Hong Kong were not used to calling for their rights through unions, but she hopes this will change in future.