KCTU rejected the tripartite agreement in extraordinary delegation convention held in Seoul on February 9.
The convention hall was filled with about 270 regular delegates and over 500 observers, and the session began at 2:00 p.m., ending at 3:00 a.m. next morning with heated discussion and tough debates.
In the course of discussions, delegates said, "We cannot accept the legislation of lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems, for it will endanger our lives", "If those systems are legislated, our workplace will be ruined", "Such measures as the legalization of National Teachers' Union or the guarantee of unions' political activities are important, but they are fundamental labor rights which ought to be guaranteed, not something for deal with lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems." And some delegates showed their strong opposition against the tripartite agreement, claiming that "KCTU leadership, which would not accept the lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems, arbitrarily signed the agreement, and this is no better than authority arbitration of business union leaders who absolutely ignore opinions of their rank and file union members."
KCTU delegate felt sorry and indignant at the situation of leadership resignation en masse, but they also recognized it is right for democratic union movement "to correct errors in a humble way on the basis of comradely affection". They resolved "to prepare a new struggle, on the basis of unity and solidarity, not division."
Official Statement of KCTU delegation convention
The Decisions made by Extraordinary Delegates Convention on Feb. 9
1. approval of the tripartite agreement: rejected by 184 delegates of 272 attending - against the legislation, and demanding renegotiations; if not accepted, start of struggle; if legislated, immediate start of general strike; concrete plans shall be committed to ECC.
2. total resignation of standing staffs of KCTU
3. infinite postponement of KCTU official election
4. formation of Emergency Executive Committee(EEC) election of Dan Byung-Ho as chairperson of EEC (present president of KDFMTU, Korean Democratic Federation of Metal Trade Unions)
5. adoption of the resolution demanding dissolution of chaebols, legalization of National Teachers' Union, release of imprisoned workers, reinstatement of dismissed workers, etc. (Drafting resolution shall be committed to EEC)