Honda hit by second China factory strike

Workers have gone on strike at a Honda (HMC.NYSE, 7267.TYO) exhaust systems plant in China, apparently emboldened by the recent two-week strike another of the Japanese carmaker’s factories, the South China Morning Post reported. About 250 employees at Foshan Fengfu, which serves Guangqi Honda Automobile, a joint venture with Guangzhou Auto’s Denway Motors (0203.HK), are demanding better wages and paid overtime. One worker said it was unfair that staff had been forced to take days off during the earlier strike at Honda Autoparts and now had to work unpaid overtime to make up the lost hours. He added that, even before the strike, the average salary at Honda Autoparts was higher than at Foshan Fengfu. The earlier strike led to a suspension of production at four Honda assembly plants in China. Honda said supplies remained stable but it would be hard to say what the effect would be should the strike continue.