Workers strike at Tianjin electronics plant

Employees at a Japanese-owned electronics factory in Tianjin were on strike over pay and benefits Thursday, halting production for the third day, AP reported. The strike at Tianjin Mitsumi Electric factory is the latest in a spate of work stoppages effecting manufacturers in China. The 2,800 workers at the factory are unionized and have submitted a list of requests for improved working conditions. One worker told state media that a new hire at the Tianjin factory currently makes US$220 a month, working six days a week with two hours of overtime every day. The factory manufactures electronic appliance parts ranging from audio tuners and antennas, to power switches.