Reflection on how i feel about Hock Lee bus riots and what i learnt from the sources.

Main point: How the rioters and police fought
On 27 April, the workers continued to block the gate of the bus depot by forming a human barrier. They refused to move despite repeated warnings. The police then used batons to disperse the crowds resulting in 15 people injured. The police action generated sympathy for the workers, which I felt was what had also gained them support. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies also stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. Based on source 2, it states about the Hock Lee Bus Riots that “It was an era where chaos and disorder were used as political tools to gain control”. This show how violent the whole process was, and how disagreements in terms of political issues can lead to such tensions within the country.

Main point: How did the workers started the riot?
Based on sources 1 and 8, there was also no bus services by the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company. Eight hundred SBWU members employed by other companies stopped work between 10 am and 2 pm on that day to protest against “police bullying”. I feel that their methods of protesting against police was very effective, as it affects the whole country and forced everybody to think about the situation they were in, thus making students from schools such as Chung Cheng High protest along with them.

 [Main point: Why did they start the strike[Hock Lee Bus Riots]?]

In February 1955, 250 workers of the Hock Lee Bus company joined the Singapore Bus Worker's Union led by Fong Swee Suan. I feel that they did this because they wanted to obtain increased wages and improved working conditions for everyone, such as the employees. 
In response. the bus company dismissed 2 employees who were branch officials of the SBWU. They probably did this to prevent troubles or protests from happening. I feel that what the company did was wrong because i believed the workers have the rights to ask for higher wages and its a bit sudden that the company decides to sack 2 workers. 
This tension between the bus workers and their management later erupted into a series of disputes. On 24 March 1955, about 100 Hock Lee drivers and conductors took the day off when their management refused to grant them leave to attend a SBWU meeting. I feel that the whole riot probably started because the workers are unsatisfied about the bus company's treatment to them. They find it unfair when they simply asked for increase wages. The company viewed the incident as a case of mass resignation by the workers and hired workers from its own employees’ union to continue bus services.5