UAW Calls on South Korea to Free Trade Unionists, Respect Workers' Rights

DETROIT, July 22 -- UAW President Ron Gettelfinger called on South Korean president Kim Dae Jung today to respect workers' rights and release imprisoned trade unionists.

"South Korea has made progress towards democracy in recent years," said Gettelfinger. "But you can't have real democracy unless workers are free to join together to organize and bargain to improve their lives." Dozens of South Korean labor leaders -- including Dan Byung Ho, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unionists (KCTU) -- are now in prison in South Korea.

"These courageous trade unionists are in jail simply because they are organizing and advocating on behalf of their members," said Gettelfinger. "That's just plain wrong."

Two prominent Korean autoworker leaders were released in early July following a world-wide Day of Action on June 27, sponsored by the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF).

"We're pleased that Il-sup Kim, president of the Daewoo workers union, and Sung-gap Kim, vice president, have been released," said Gettelfinger. "That's a step in the right direction, but more must be done to ensure that freedom of association is a reality in South Korea."

The IMF Day of Action involved demonstrations, pickets, informational leafleting, meeting with South Korean ambassadors and other actions by IMF affiliates in 43 countries on six continents. UAW members joined members of other unions and human rights activists on June 27 during an informational picket at the South Korean embassy in Washington, DC.

In addition, as part of the Day of Action, UAW President Gettelfinger wrote to South Korean President Kim, calling for the release of Dan Byung-ho and other jailed trade unionists.

"We're proud to be part of our IMF, which stands up for the rights of workers and citizens around the world," said Gettelfinger. "International solidarity is nothing less than a necessity in today's global economy."

The Metalworkers Federation is especially concerned about repression of workers' rights in South Korea, Gettelfinger said, "because South Korea has a developed economy, but an underdeveloped structure of protection for workers and trade unionists."

South Korean law, for example, allows workers to be prosecuted for the crime of "obstruction of business."

"This vague statute has been repeatedly abused by the South Korean government, leading to the repression of legitimate trade union activity," said Gettelfinger. "That's why South Korean labor practices have been criticized by the International Labor Organization, and why the country is currently being monitored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development."

"Elected trade union leaders should be meeting with their members, not languishing in prison," said Gettelfinger.

"In the years when South Korea was a military dictatorship, and Kim Dae Jung was a prominent campaigner for democracy, our union stood by him when his life was threatened, and when he was imprisoned and forced into exile," said Gettelfinger.

"Now it's time for President Kim to stand up for Korean workers and citizens by releasing wrongfully imprisoned trade union leaders."

Further information about imprisoned labor leaders in South Korea, Gettelfinger said, is available at www.laborrightsnow.org , a Web site sponsored by the UAW and the AFL-CIO, and at the International Metalworkers Federation Web site at www.imfmetal.org . Visitors to the IMF site can send an e-mail message directly to President Kim.