Labor woes send shudder through Beijing

China's recent economic downturn is spurring a new wave of worker strikes, which experts say are the only effective channel for them to air their grievances.

Thousands of workers at the Yucheng Footwear Factory in Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in southern Guangdong province, clashed with police last week to demand better pay. Factory managers laid off 18 employees and cut overtime after a drop in overseas orders --prompting employees to demonstrate at the local government building.

"The slow-down strike is still on but there's no street protest because the police have been mobilized," said one worker, who asked to remain anonymous when interviewed by phone five days after the labor action.