Michael Chan | ‘Communist Party Railway’ image reversal through MTR trade union
This is Michael’s fifth year working for the MTR as a train driver for the East Rail Line. He founded the eighth MTR trade union ‘Railway Power’ in 2019 and is currently the union’s chairman. It’s not easy to work for a controversial company, let alone establishing a trade union. Let’s learn more about Michael’s story below.
“There is a group of Hongkongers who by the power of trade unions wish to rebuild the image of the MTRC from the nickname ‘Communist Party Railway’.”
Journalist: Kristen Cho
Translator: Boss BB
Illustrator: Vanessa Lai
I am a train driver for the MTR’s East Rail Line and the chairman of ‘Railway Power’, the eighth trade union of the MTR Corporation (MTRC). Many think that being a train driver is a decent job, earning no less than some HK$20k a month. However, this is not true. In fact, my salary is quite low - a mere basic monthly pay of HK$18k. Nevertheless, serving Hongkongers is still our passion, so many of us stay and work for this ‘deep bluish’[*1] company. We hope to bring at least some changes to the company by forming a trade union.
MTRC’s stance
When the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) Movement had just started in June 2019, the MTRC was more tolerant and understanding towards the social situation. Its management had been considered acceptable, until the incident on 21 July[*2] as the public questioned over the actions of the frontline staff. Yet I, as a train driver, fully understand why the driver on the West Rail Line made such decisions regarding the timing of opening and closing train doors. After all, she was acting on her superior’s orders. Nevertheless, the incident made me cast doubts on the company’s management.
Some of my colleagues organised petitions following the events on 11 August in Kwai Fong[*3] and Taikoo Stations[*4], but the response from the MTRC was full of bureaucratic jargon. On 31 August[*5], we were left speechless after the police used ‘enforcement’ as an excuse to break through the ticket barriers.
None of the MTRC’s responses condemned the police’s shameful actions such as the deployment of tear gas in train stations and the allegedly deliberate late arrival at the scene (39 minutes after the first report). These behaviours are clearly inappropriate, but the MTRC’s responses have been nothing more than bureaucratic.
Birth of the trade union - when ‘Mass Transit Railway’ becomes ‘Communist Party Railway’
I recall that at the beginning of the movement, our company increased the service level and opened up all ticket barriers for protesters to leave safely. However, after the newspaper People’s Daily publicly criticised the company, it started to shut down train stations randomly at the orders of the ‘Chinese Communist Party’.
There had been seven MTR trade unions before ours was founded. One of the seven is under the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), but since it has very few members, their voices are largely unheard of. All the other six are affiliated to pro-establishment parties. They condemn the ‘rioters’ for disturbing the order in train stations and complain them for increasing their workload, without considering the larger social picture.
The responses from the MTRC and the inaction of all other trade unions prompted me to start a new trade union, through which new voices could be heard within the company.
The trade union was formed through the Telegram group previously used for organising petitions. Members were encouraged to invite their friends to join, and its size grew gradually. We are very lucky to have members from different ranks -- train drivers, station staff, engineers and so on. Their involvement makes our union more representative.
The daily routine since the Anti-ELAB Movement
Frankly speaking, my work routine hasn’t changed much since the beginning of the Anti-ELAB Movement. Like many colleagues, serving Hongkongers is still my priority. Why do we have to prioritise the instructions of ‘the Communist Party’ now? We don’t understand.
I was hopeful of bringing in changes to the company when I formed the trade union as a new ‘battlefront’. It is clear that the MTR’s reputation had never been great. Many had criticised the MTR for its ever-increasing fares and frequent signal failures. Yet the Anti-ELAB Movement has made it even worse: the MTR has been given a notorious nickname, the ‘Communist Party Railway’.
We can be sure that the MTRC is a ‘bluish’ company. The majority of its management (my managers included) supports the ‘blue camp’. Some of them are even retired police who now work in the MTR’s By-laws Inspection Unit[*6]. With such a ‘deep bluish’ culture, it is hardly surprising that many of my colleagues have treated me differently since the union’s formation.
The company’s suppression on the union
It would probably have made news had we not been suppressed by the ‘deep bluish’ MTRC. Suppression is ubiquitous -- we aren’t even allowed to post our trade union’s information on notice boards in MTR stations, and many of our colleagues and superiors have made it explicit that they will use all possible means to deter the union's development. That’s why we hadn’t informed the company of the new union until we were successfully registered with the Registry of Trade Unions (RTU).
There’s not much that I can worry despite all these. Had we not done anything but relied on the existing seven trade unions, I guess nothing much would have changed until the day of my retirement. At least I have tried: starting a trade union is better than doing nothing.
It has been tough, but I am glad to have a group of like-minded colleagues who are willing to bring a new voice into the company together with me.
The union’s future
It is obvious that as a trade union we focus on labour topics. The COVID-19 pandemic has made many colleagues worried about being furloughed or asked to take a pay cut. We simply can’t ignore these matters.
In addition, we are concerned with public issues related to the MTR, such as the deteriorating service quality, the derailment incident near Hung Hom Station last year and the scandal of shortened piles at various construction sites along the Sha Tin to Central Link.
We are also following up on the incidents of 21 July and 31 August by demanding that surveillance camera footage be made public and the management be held accountable. On the social-political side, we keep an eye on issues such as the re-introduction of Article 23[*7] which has sparked heated debate.
I believe that everyone in the trade union -- whether in the committee or not -- cares not only about labour issues of oneself but also wider current affairs.
Final messages
To colleagues who fear the consequences of joining our trade union: We would like to reassure you that any personal data collected will only be used for our daily operations. Names will be sent to the RTU to meet our legal obligations, but under no other circumstances will members’ personal data be disclosed, not even to the company.
And to Hongkongers: We understand your utter disappointment towards the MTRC’s poor performance in 2019. Yet there is a group of Hongkongers who by the power of trade unions wish to rebuild the image of the MTRC from the nickname ‘Communist Party Railway’.
And finally: five demands, not one less.
“I am Michael Chan, I am a HKer.”
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[*1] Colours are used to differentiate political stances. Blue represents supporters of the government and the police force; yellow represents supporters of the Anti-ELAB Movement.
[*2] Also known as the Yuen Long Attack. After the demonstrations on Hong Kong Island on 21 Jul 2019, a group of allegedly organised criminals swarmed into Yuen Long MTR Station and attacked protesters returning home as well as other civilians indiscriminately. The police was accused of colluding with the attackers for its tactical absence. The driver of the West Rail Line train that happened to be on the platform was also accused of her failure to timely close the train doors, thereby delaying the rescue.
[*3] On 11 Aug 2019, protests broke out in many areas of Hong Kong. A group of protesters built up roadblocks near Kwai Fong MTR Station. In an operation to disperse the crowd, the police deployed tear gas inside the station.
[*4] There were also disputes inside Tai Koo MTR Station on the same day (11 Aug). As a group of protesters reached Exit C of the station, they unexpectedly faced the police who restrained some of them. The Special Tactical Squad shot at the protesters with pepperball guns from about a metre distance. While the riot police pushed the protesters back into the station, a man fell down on the escalator and was allegedly beaten up by them at least 11 times.
[*5] On 31 Aug 2019, some MTR passengers picked quarrels and attacked others, including protesters, inside Prince Edward Station. Later, riot police and the Special Tactical Squad entered a train, and allegedly attacked passengers, including protesters and civilians begging for mercy, with batons and pepper spray. It has been rumoured that the operation led to casualties. The MTRC has repeatedly refused to reveal the surveillance camera footage.
[*6] The By-laws Inspection Unit is part of the MTRC. See http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/mtr_by_laws.html for a full list of MTR by-laws.
[*7] Article 23 of the Basic Law: ‘The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organisations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies.’