Chinese iPod supplier accepts unionization

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A trade union has been formed at the Chinese plant of Foxconn, the electronics maker that assembles iPods for the US group Apple and is backed with investment from Taiwan.

The move follows a drive by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the country’s only legal union, to get branches set up in foreign-funded companies.

As part of the pressure the city trade union in Shenzhen, where Foxconn is based, had tried to persuade the company to allow unionized labour since 2004. Finally, the two sides agreed in 2006 that a union should be formed by the end of the year. The union was set up with only a few hours to spare.

Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, established a union branch at its Chinese headquarters in Shenzhen in November after repeatedly rejecting requests.