Protests and Riots

Yesterday, out in my part of Wuxi, I saw a group of people outside the gates of a government building.  Watching them was a fairly large group of security.  I asked my Chinese companion what's was up, and she told me that there was a group of construction workers who hadn't been paid their wages.

Today, I heard that another company had told their workers that they wouldn't be getting raises for the next year, they wouldn't be getting the expected Spring Festival bonus, and that even some of them would see a decrease in their pay.  Being told to take it or leave it, the workers rioted.

Meanwhile, I have heard that many out-of-towners are already returning to their hometowns for the Spring Festival.