On 28 February, China Digital Times reported that a food delivery workers’ mutual aid network organiser (Xiong Yan, also known as Chen Ping) might have been taken into police custody in Beijing. On 1 March, an informant from within the Ele.me, the online platform from which Xiong Yan gets his delivery orders, confirmed that he and some other members of his network were indeed arrested. At the time of writing, Xiong Yan’s whereabouts and status remain unknown, and speculation abounds.
To the people saying this is CIA prop: Yeah it's probably weaponized to some extent but the essence of the story is rational.
The delivery worker has in the past rallied workers and organized strikes in relation to other labor disputes, and is an important (founding?) member of an unsanctioned union-like-institution outside of the power structure of the party.
If I was a state actor, I think it'd be entirely rational to react to the delivery rider's agit-prop video by picking up the dissident, if for nothing else than to prevent an immediate followup of organizing/direct action and for questioning.
Also this appears to not be the first time this individual has faced repercussions for non-party-affiliated labor organizing.
Support to Xiong Yan, and to the other gig employees elsewhere. I hope the CPC is trying to resolve this contention properly and are addressing the circumstances that led them to this point.
To the people saying this is CIA prop: Yeah it's probably weaponized to some extent but the essence of the story is rational.
The delivery worker has in the past rallied workers and organized strikes in relation to other labor disputes, and is an important (founding?) member of an unsanctioned union-like-institution outside of the power structure of the party.
If I was a state actor, I think it'd be entirely rational to react to the delivery rider's agit-prop video by picking up the dissident, if for nothing else than to prevent an immediate followup of organizing/direct action and for questioning.
Also this appears to not be the first time this individual has faced repercussions for non-party-affiliated labor organizing.
Support to Xiong Yan, and to the other gig employees elsewhere. I hope the CPC is trying to resolve this contention properly and are addressing the circumstances that led them to this point.