In Shanghai’s busy streets, near the towering skyline, a historic building preserves the workers’ struggle legacy. This shikumen-style structure once housed the China Labor Association Office, created by the Communist Party in 1921. That year marked a turning point in China’s labor movement, where efforts to organize workers first began. The site now connects modern visitors to the country’s earliest labor advocacy milestones. This legacy continues to inspire efforts to protect labor rights today.
Back in the 1920s, China’s workers endured brutal conditions under imperialism, feudalism, and rising industrial capitalism. The Communist Party of China quickly responded by forming a labor office just one month after its founding. This organization expanded across China, with branches in major cities like Beijing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou. These offices helped form a unified voice for workers across industries and regions. Their efforts culminated in the birth of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions in 1925.
Leaders like Zhu Run say this site served as both a launching pad and a nurturing ground for worker mobilization. The workers’ struggle legacy grew stronger with each organized strike and union formation. Workers led actions like the strike at the British American Tobacco company, which marked the first strike under Party leadership. The office also created the first workers’ newspaper and hosted China’s first labor conference. Located near key industrial areas, it became the core of national labor coordination.
Duan Lian from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences described the office as a vital movement center. He explained that Shanghai, with nearly half a million workers, naturally became a labor movement hub. The office played a key role in shifting disorganized protests into coordinated efforts. Beyond organizing, it also educated workers through schools and political discussions. These schools raised awareness about both economic justice and national liberation.
Today, the building functions as a museum and a cultural education center. Inside, visitors can walk a path of footprints that transforms from bare feet to shoes, symbolizing progress. Interactive technology recreates 1920s Shanghai streets and simulates dockworker tasks. These tools let young visitors connect with past hardships and sacrifices. Experts work with the museum to ensure accurate and engaging historical storytelling.
The museum also holds rare items like the Communist monthly journal, which covers the office’s founding story. These publications document how strikes and labor actions gave rise to the workers’ struggle legacy. According to Zhu Run, access to these records helps young people understand the value of labor rights. He noted that 70 percent of visitors are students eager to learn history through interactive exhibits. Through this approach, the museum strengthens the link between the past and today’s workforce.
Zou Weimin of Shanghai Vocational College of Trade Union emphasized the continuity of labor advocacy. He stated that although methods have changed, the mission of protecting workers remains unchanged. Today’s labor issues include gig economy rights, overtime culture, and workplace wellbeing. However, the spirit of uniting workers and seeking justice stays consistent. Shanghai aims to preserve this spirit by educating new generations.
Duan Lian added that early labor leaders were young, much like today’s activists. He said their goals included both survival and dignity, just like modern workers. Educators like Zhou believe this museum offers a powerful tool to connect students to real history. He plans to bring students so they can reflect on today’s rights through the lens of yesterday’s fight. This shared journey strengthens understanding of the enduring workers’ struggle legacy.
Shanghai continues to expand its labor history sites and tours to celebrate this journey. Officials invite locals and tourists to explore how ordinary workers shaped extraordinary change. The workers’ struggle legacy lives not just in old documents, but also in present challenges and future dreams. With each visitor, the story grows more relevant to modern labor movements. Shanghai ensures that these lessons remain a living part of national memory.
