Korean Workers' Struggle News #1

Contents

1. KCTU General Strike (May 27, 13:00, 1998) (from KCTU Struggle News)
2. 120,000 workers from 120 unions launch a General Strike at 13:00, on May 27, 1998.
'No Fight, No Tomorrow'
General Strike on May 27th
Contact

1. KCTU General Strike (May 27, 13:00, 1998)

(from KCTU Struggle News)

• 123,416 workers from 132 KCTU-affiliated unions launched the first phase of a nationwide General Strike at 13:00 on May 27, 1998. The key points of contention are the Korean government's rejection of KCTU's five core demands regarding the guarantee of a basic livelihood and employment security, and because the Korean government unilaterally walked out of ongoing negotiations with KCTU. This General Strike wave will last for two days, from the 27th to the 28th of May.

• The main union federations in this first wave are: KMWF (Korean Metal Workers' Federation), KFPU (Korean Federation of Public Workers Unions), KFSU (Korean Federation of Social Service Workers' Unions), Local Medical Insurance Cooperative Workers' Unions, KFCW (Korean Federation of Chemical Workers' Unions), and KFTWU (Korea Federation of Taxi Workers' Unions).

• KCTU will continue with the second wave of the General Strike from the 10th of June unless the Korean government accepts KCTU's five key demands:
  1. Repeal the February 1998 provisions that legalized redundancy dismissal (a mass lay-off system) and the worker dispatch system (a system creating irregular work through temporary employment agencies), and eradicate the rampant illegal dismissals and unfair labor practices;
  2. Ensure the rights to a basic livelihood and stable employment, and legislate a 40-hour work week;
  3. Make a comprehensive and concrete plan to tackle the emerging unemployment crisis;
  4. Root out corrupt practices and collusion between the government (political parties) and conglomerate business, dismantle the chaebol system, and ensure that the three basic workers' rights are respected as well as the unions' right to participate in workplace decision-making; and
  5. A Comprehensive Review (re-negotiation) of the IMF conditions: to withdraw the injunction for a flexible labor market and extremely contractionary fiscal policy; to regulate international speculative capital; to ensure that in cases of mergers and acquisitions that the recognized union remains so and that its collective bargaining agreement with the former management remains valid.

2. 120,000 workers from 120 unions launch a General Strike at 13:00, on May 27, 1998. (from KMWF's News #7)

120,000 Workers from 120 Unions Launched the General Strike at 1 p.m. Today

"The government's attitude has been insincere... and the strike will not be cancelled"

--quote from the KCTU press conference

The KCTU held a press conference at Myongdong Cathedral at 10 a.m. today and declared it would launch an all-out struggle, including a general strike from 1 p.m. May 27 with 120,000 workers from 120 unions.

KCTU President Lee Kab Yong and KMWF President Dan Byong-ho stated, "We did our best to resolve the issues through dialogue and negotiation." The government, however, has broken its word and continues with an insincere negotiation attitude. KCTU has not ruled out the possibility of participation in a Tripartite Council if the government is prepared to include the five demands in the Council's agenda and if the status of the Council be elevated into a body which is capable of concluding a binding agreement. However, the government continues its strategy of pursuing a token KCTU presence for the second tripartite commission without serious consideration of KCTU's platform for real reform. Thus negotiations between the government and KCTU broke down and the result is the strike.

The strike will continue until tomorrow and 120,000 members of 125 unions from 6 industrial union federations including the KMWF, the KFPU (Korean Federation of Public Workers' Unions), and the KFSU (Korean Federation of Social Service Workers' Unions) will participate in it. Other unions will participate in the struggle by holding assemblies, unionists' education, mealtime rallies etc. In particular, this strike serves as a warning strike.

After the two day warning strike wave, KCTU will continue pursuing negotiation with the government. However, should the government undertake a course of severe suppression and intrasigence, KCTU stands ready to launch an unrelenting all-out struggle. After the first strike, there will be a rally on May 30, nationwide rallies on June 3, and finally a second all-out general strike wave from June 10.

KCTU Action Plan for May 27

1. All members start the general strike at 1 p.m.
2. The unions which haven't completed their strike voting will:
1. ) rapidly conclude their decision-making
2. ) participate in the strike as much as possible through assemblies, unionists' education, mealtime rallies, and shopstewards' rallies
3. ) distribute as much information as possible through flyers and leaflets.
3. Rally Schedule
   1. ) Regional rallies begin at 5 p.m. (In Seoul, the metal workers' rally at 3 p.m. and the national KCTU rally begins at 4 p.m. - Seoul Station)
   2. ) Daily rallies at 7 p.m. at Myongdong Cathedral.
   3. ) All the rallies and marches are to proceed peacefully.

123,765 workers of 125 unions in 6 federations Resolve to Strike- 18:00 May 26

KFCW: Korean Federation of Chemical Workers' Unions
KFTWU: Korea Federation of Taxi Workers' Unions
KMIWU: Korean Medical Insurance Cooperative Workers' Union
 

'No Fight, No Tomorrow'

90,000 Metal Workers of 50 Unions Launch General Strike

(from KMWF's News # 7)

The KMWF stands at the forefront of this struggle with 90,000 workers of 50 unions going on strike at 1 p.m. today.

The rank-and-file votes to go on strike were concluded on the evening of May 26th, with a total 83,000 members of 46 unions, including Hyundai Motors union and Daewoo Motors union resolving to strike at a rate of 81.99%. Eight unions, including Kyongdong Industries union and Daerim Motors union will conclude their tallies by the 27th. Members of unions which haven't concluded their tallies--such as of Halla Kongjo and Daehan Iyon--will show their support for the strike by holding assemblies and leaving work early.

After the press conference at Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul, KMWF President Dan Byong-ho flew to Ulsan to participate in the regional rally there. Likewise, other KMWF leaders also departed from Seoul to join the local rallies in other regions.

Marathon All Night Negotiation Session With the Government...But No Result

• On the issue of repealing the redundancy dismissal (mass lay-off) provision: the government's response is an flat-out "No"

• On Industry-level central bargaining: "the government can't intervene"

• On an Unemployment fund of 20 trillion won: "If there is money is leftover"

• On Punishment of unfair labor practices: "Only if blatant" Dismantling of the "chaebol"-system: "Diligent restructuring" Despite the intrasigence in the government response, some of the Korean press exaggerates the working-level negotiation, distorting it into 'the possibility of cancellation of thestrike'

As reported in the press, KCTU had begun working-level negotiations with the government from 3 p.m. on May 26th and continued until the morning of the 27th, but the result is unexpectedly poor.

After the first negotiation from 3 pm to 8 pm on the 26th, the negotiation continued from 10 pm until today; however, the efforts were in vain and the government's efforts toward a successful resolution were feeble. The government's proposition is as follows: 'It is impossible to repeal the redundancy dismissal bill and the worker dispatch system. But if you enter the tripartite commission, we can talk about how to prevent excessive use of those provisions' 'The government can't intervene in the central bargaining issue. If the government takes the stance that employers should bargain on an industry level, it is an unfair labor practice. We can only propose a bargaining table.' 'As for renegotiation with the IMF, there is no possibility.' 'The unfair labor practices can be punished only if the illegality is absolutely proven. If you enter the commission, we can set up an organization for it in the commission.' 'We can settle the issue of workers arrested in the May Day rally.' 'If you enter the commission, we can set up a discussion body in it for restructuring in the public sector.' 'It is impossible to raise 20 trillion won for an unemployment fund. If by any chance we have a lot of money left...' 'Dismantling the "chaebol"-system? It only needs some restructuring...'

The participants in the negotiation table were: Lee Sung-do (chairman of the special committee for KCTU organizational strengthening), Lee Sang-hak (KCTU vice general secretary), and Yoon Woo-hyun (KCTU director of employment planning), and Lee Mok-hee, Lee Yong-bom (tripartite commission), and Shin Jae-myon (industrial relations coordinator). The negotiation process started through an agreement made by KCTU President Lee Kab Yong, KCTU Vice-President Dan Byong-ho, Labor Minister Lee Ki-ho, and Kim Won-ki, Chairman of the tripartite commission. Meanwhile, exaggerating the situation of the negotiation, the Korean press was circulating rumours that 'the KCTU is worrying about negative public opinion' and was reporting that 'there is a good possiblity of cancelling the strike'. Many workers suspect indirect government control of the press in shapening public opinion against the strike by falsifying the reality. 'The press hasn't changed.' Thus, KCTU held a press conference at 11 pm on May 26^th and 10 am on May 27^th at Myongdong Cathedral. KCTU criticized the false reports by the press and clarified that though it would continue to talk with the government that there would be been no cancellation of the strike if the government doesn't participate with sincerity.
 

General Strike on May 27th

Sketches in Each Union

The Hyundai Motors Union — 500 motorcycles lead the way The workers decided to strike with an approval rating of 90%. They will hold a mass rally in the factory and march for two hours to Taehwa River. 20,000 members will attend the rally and 500 motorcycle will lead the way.

The Hyundai Precision Industries Union The workers will hold a rally in their factory at 1 pm and 2,000 workers will march with cars to the rally due at 5:30.

The union of Daewoo Motors to launch central industrial action committee (CIAC) and start general strike The union will hold launching ceremony of CIAC at 1 pm and 2,000 members will attend a rally in front of Bupyong Station. The workers will also join the May 28th rally at Chongmyo.

The Mando Machinery Union Mando workers will hold a rally in the factory from 1 to 2 pm and 1,000 members will join a rally in front of Ansan Station.

The Daewoo Shipbuilding Co. Union The workers have entrusted the decision on scheduling and type of action to the president. The ballot for the strike will be concluded by 1 pm on May 27th.

* Published by "Pan-national Movement Headquarters for Employment, Measures against unemployment, Chaebol reform and Measures against IMF"

* Edited by "Korean Action Network for International Solidarity against the capital's global rule"(KANIS)
 

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Contents

1. KCTU General Strike (May 27, 13:00, 1998) (from KCTU Struggle News)
2. 120,000 workers from 120 unions launch a General Strike at 13:00, on May 27, 1998.
'No Fight, No Tomorrow'
General Strike on May 27th
Contact