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KCTU

Action Alert

July 14, 1998

Alert! Alert! Alert!

Government Sets Out on a War Against Workers

As of 23:30 July 14, 1998, the government has issued warrant for capture against Mr Dan Byung-ho, the President of the Korean Metal Workers Federation. 5 minutes ago, a telephone call from Han-il Danjo Workers Union announced that its president Kang Jung-man was captured by police. Currently, couple of hundred riot police has surrounded the building which houses the office of the Korean Metal Workers Federation for a raid and capture. And police agents are going a round of the homes of the officers of the unions in the Masan-Changwon region, one of the metal industrial town.

The sudden rush to crack down by the Kim Dae Jung government comes following a successful strike by metal industry workers under the leadership of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

Today, more than 65,000 workers joined strike today. Tomorrow, on the second day of the strike, more than 100,000 more workers of the public sector and banks are expected join the strike. More than 5,000 members of Korea Telecom Workers Union in Seoul are currently gathered in an unspecified location to prepare for tomorrow's strike.

The crackdown signals what has always been suspected: that the government was not willing to engage nor capable of engaging in dialogue with unions. KCTU has called on the government to develop a comprehensive framework of consultation to develop an acceptable plan for reform and restructuration.

The KCTU agreed to participate in the Tripartite Council on the understanding that it would become THE forum for any reform programmes. But, the government has abandoned any idea of involving unions in the restructuring process. For example, the government announcement of public sector restructuring -- involving the sale of major public utilities, such as, the Korea Telecom, Pohang Steel, Korea Tobacco -- came without any prior consultation with unions. The government reneged on its prior commitment to deal with the issue at the Tripartite Council. In another case, the government acted to close down five banks without consulting with unions. In its announcement and plan for bank closure, government failed to include one word concerning the employment concerns of more than 10,000 bank workers who will lose jobs by the closure.

This kind of action by the government has sent a clear signal to all employers: you can go ahead an sack all the workers it is deemed necessary without any consideration for the fate of workers.

This was the sufficient for the management of the Hyundai Motors to announce that it will go ahead with the sacking of some 5,000 workers by the end of July regardless of strikes by workers. The Hyundai Motors management is acting with confidence that the government will deal with any resistance by the union and workers.

The crack down signals a new phase in the current economic crisis. The government is declaring that it will push ahead with restructuring without any pretence of consulting with unions. It is giving a go-ahead signal to employers to follow suit.

The current wave of strikes are undertaken mainly by the KCTU affiliated members of metal industry, public sector, and banks. The beginning of the crackdown, however, means that the KCTU now has to decide to launch a total general strike involving all its members through the entire economy.

Yoon Youngmo International Secretary KCTU email per inviare messaggi di solidarietà fax: +82-2-765-2011 tel.: +82-2-765-7269