As lead-type printing workers, we have been striving to secure our rightful interests by demanding better working conditions, reduced workloads, and higher wages from our employers. Initially, our requests were made in good faith; however, the employers adopted an inflexible and unyielding stance, showing no willingness to compromise. Faced with such obstruction, we were left with no choice but to resort to strike action. Our strike was necessitated by the fact that most of our demands were rejected, compelling us to take this step. It was under duress that we went on strike. Moreover, our strike was entirely well-intentioned and lawful.  The recent strike has inflicted substantial damage on cultural endeavors. Some have criticized us workers, but we cannot accept such blame. We cannot sacrifice our own livelihoods—our own food and clothing—as well as those of our wives and children—simply to advance the interests of the intellectual class or to promote cultural development without any consideration for our own basic needs. We would never have pressed our demands if our employers had not repeatedly refused them, often in large part. Nor would we have resorted to the ultimate measure of a strike unless we had been driven to it. Therefore, the primary responsibility for this loss lies with the intransigent employers.

Our strike has now lasted seventeen days. Both the government and the so-called intellectual elite acknowledge the severe harm it has caused to cultural affairs. They, too, feel the pain; yet they fail to consider our plight. We believe that the intellectual class bears a duty to mediate this unavoidable strike, just as the government has a duty to act as an arbiter. While everyone undoubtedly suffers, it is incumbent upon all to come together to resolve the issue. It cannot be left solely to us workers to bear the burden, nor can we be expected to sacrifice ourselves to alleviate the suffering of others. We find it perplexing that, throughout these seventeen days, the focus has been almost exclusively on condemning the workers, with little effort to assist in finding a solution. Even more baffling is the government’s indifference to our situation and its failure to render impartial judgment.

Thus, while the intellectual class and government officials must bear primary responsibility for this outcome, we also recognize that we share some measure of accountability for the disruption caused. We acknowledge that our actions have resulted in significant societal losses. However, we were acting out of necessity; this was not our intention. Our lives are at stake, and problems were bound to arise. We had previously presented our demands and issued warnings to the employers. Yet their intransigence led them to prefer allowing this damage to occur rather than addressing our concerns. Meanwhile, neither the government nor the intellectual elite sought to devise a way forward; they, too, seemed content to let the situation unfold. As ordinary workers, our capacity to effect change is limited. Given the gravity of the stakes, we found ourselves essentially powerless to prevent the strike.

Fortunately, various labor unions stepped in to offer support, and prominent figures such as Zhang Mao, Zhang Pingzi, and Tao Xiaozhong volunteered to mediate. Ultimately, the employers agreed to most of our key demands, and both sides signed a formal agreement. As a result, our wages have been increased, our working hours reduced, and we have secured provisions for bonuses and regular rest days on new-moon and full-moon dates. We are deeply grateful to the mediators and the labor unions for their assistance. We have achieved victory. We hereby announce the resumption of work.