Korean Workers Strike Again: Dispute over Repressive Labor Law Heats Up

01/09/97

Reuters reports that Labor strikes flared up in Korea with renewed vigor, as Government prosecutors summoned top union leaders for questioning. About 150,000 workers left their jobs, including 100,000 workers at the Daewoo and Hyundai groups. Workers are protesting a new labor law that the government imposed, their strikes have paralyzed car production and idled two of the country's biggest shipyards.

Senior prosecutor Lee Sang-hyong said the government has ordered about 20 leaders from the outlawed Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to appear before prosecutors by Tuesday. Kwon Young-kil, president of the confederation dismissed the summons and threatened to extend the strikes, which the government has outlawed. At a news conference, Kwon said, "we will not respond to the prosecution summons."

Kwon said that no summons had been delivered to union leaders, many of which occupied a makeshift tent pitched on the snow-covered grounds of Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral in sub-zero conditions.

Kwon said workers from hospitals, medical insurance firms, and broadcasters would join the stoppages unless President Kim Young-sam repealed the new labor law.

The government rammed the law through parliament on December 26. The new law erodes decades of job security and also legalizes union busting tactics. Kwon accused the Korean government of forcing a showdown between union leaders and public prosecuters as a way to divert public attention from the industrial unrest. "Despite the government's strong response," said Kwon, "we will push on with our strikes and we won't back down."

73,341 union workers at Hyundai group have begun an indefinite strike. 27,650 unionized workers Daewoo Group have walked out, 18,000 workers at Kia Motors are out, and 7,853 union workers at Ssangyong Motor Co. have voted to resume their walkout. A union representing 14,256 white-collar workers at government-backed research institutes and industry associations has also joined the protest.

Police have stepped up surveillance of labor protests in Seoul. Uniformed police are checking the identification papers of demonstrators, and plainclothes officers are taking notes on speeches made by labor leaders.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel