China - IBM refuses to bargain in good faith (2013)

20 workers were sacked on 10 March 2014 by IBM Systems Technology Company (ISTC) in Shenzhen for participating in a strike over the merger of the company with Lenovo. ISTC promised workers they would maintain the same working conditions and salaries after the merger. The company asked the workers to choose between claiming their severance compensation with ISTC and preserving their seniority in the new contract. Workers did not accept this plan and went on a strike on 3 March 2014. However, ISTC refused to negotiate with workers’ representatives and started to harass elected union leaders with text messages. On 10 March 2014, management dismissed 20 workers who were leading the strike for absence from work, assembling a crowd, disturbing production and breaching the company rules.