Steel factory workers kill one manager, clash with police in merger plan dispute

CHANGCHUN. July 27. KAZINFORM Around 1,000 steel factory workers killed a manager, whose company had been engaging in a merger talk to take control of the steel company, in a protest, the provincial government of Jilin in northeast China confirmed on Monday; Kazinform cites China View.

photo: QAZINFORM

A work group organized by the provincial government to investigate the incident said the manager, named Chen Guojun, was dispatched by the Beijing-based Jianlong Heavy Machinery Group to conduct the merger plan to take a controlling share in the Tonghua Iron and Steel Group.

Jianlong has become Tonghua's second largest share-holder since 2005.

According to the investigation, the workers that were involved in the protest were mainly composed of those that may expect job losses after the company's managerial reshuffle, and some retired workers.

The group of protesters began gathered in the company's office building on Thursday morning. The protest turned violent as they rushed into the factory to stop the production line, and injured the manager Chen; Kazinform refers to China View.

See www.chinaview.cn for full version.