TNAG-0650-FCO40-798-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H.-A.-Tu-1977 — Page 116

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at all an important consideration.

Nevertheless, while they regarde

most aspects of their job situation' (with the notable exception of

welfare benefits) as "average" or "good", a clear majority thought

union organisation was poor or unsatisfactory.

52.50.

That they were far from being concerned with income alone

is illustrated by the fact that, of a number of alternative benefits

to higher wages, distinct majorities preferring greater security

and more social benefits. And where methods of remedying grievances

or difficulties in their living conditions or employment terms were

concerned, they emerged as strongly collectivist in attitude,

preferring (for instance) some kind of joint or representative

action to either individual initiative or (the remedies usually

suggested as typical simply looking for another job or seeking

family assistance. However, they remained sceptical of trade

unions as a resort - over 40 preferred action through direct

workers' representives, and one-fifth through government legislation.

Only one in our hundred factory workers considered trade union

bargaining as a practicable method of improvement.

13.51.

There is thus a certain contradiction in the factory

workers' attitudes which was displayed in other respects. They

believed strongly, for instance, that employers should be

paternalistic and look after their workers' interests; but over half

of them considered employers to be more concerned with their own

profits, and a majority perceived a conflict of interest between

employers and workers. Similarly, they split three ways in their

general attitude to trade unions about equal numbers supporting

them in principle, opposing them, and profeffing ignorance or

indifference. But confronted with a list of functions which unions

might undertake, a greater number of workers than had supportsi trad:

/ union.....