From Patriotism To The "economism": See The Fuzziness Of The Trade Union Identity And Its Consequences From The Early 1950s, The Private Sector Excess Bonuses

On June 1951,Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions called up labours and capitalists to carry forward patriotism.to carry out production-increase and economy movement to donate to the Anti-America and Aid Korean campaign.With the promotion and help of trade unions,workers in private enterprises impelled capitalists to donate and to promise to give excess-production bonus to workers.In 1953.when workers' excess-production bonus abated government's revenue income and enterprises' accumulation funds.it was criticized as economism and adjusted or canceled by trade unions. The Anti-economism movement reduced workers income,aroused dissatisfaction among workers.It also harmed trade unions' prestige.Against this backdrop.the 1957 shanghai strike wave took place.The reason why trade unions changed their attitude toward workers'excess bonus was that the identity of trade unions was amphibolous.At the beginning of 1950s,the state power penetrated into grass roots of society.This mission was assumed by trade unions.On one hand,the trade union has to carry out state policies,which was determined by its essential character.On the other hand,they have to behave on the behalf of workers,otherwise they would be disliked by workers.When the state adopted an industrial policy which favored higher accumulation and lower consumption,the state's will was not always in accordance with workers' interest.Furthermore,workers did not always accept trade unions summon passively,They could respond according to their own interest.So trade unions often met difficulties and dilemmas.The amphibology of trade unions' identity would continue to be a cause of labour movement in the history of People's Republic of China.