media - Unpaid workers block road

The story in itself is a bit of smallish. Threehundred workers blocked a highway in Guangdong province for an hour after they learned the owner of their shoe factory had left with all the money, including three months of outstanding wages. What makes the story interesting is that Chinese media are reporting about it, up to the China Daily.
Seeing local reports about labor unrest would not be that uncommon, but the story would be killed when it would move upwards in the media food chain. In the past authorities were afraid other workers would see this as an encouragement to do the same. Now, should we see this as an encouragement?