Published by PICIS (Policy and Information Center for International Solidarity)
No. 6 (weekly)
Edited by Anna
Feb. 23, Monday, 1998
PICIS was established for joining in the international solidarity movement against neoliberalistic attacks by the transnational capital worldwide, as well as for launching practical international solidarity movement among South Korean progressive forces.
We aim at not only sharing policies and information with foreign progressive organisations but also making practical supporting movement with workers' and peoples' struggles, who are suppressed and exploited.
This newsletter contains Korean progressive forces' activities, and through this newsletter we want to contact and make solidarity with foreign activists and make practical activity with all of you
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Korea
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Korean Workers' and People's Struggle
FKTU (Federation of Korean Trade Unions) held a representative meeting on Feb 19, and decided to set up 'unemployment center' for eradication of illegal dismissal and national aid for the unemployed. They also proposed joint labor candidates for local election to KCTU. "We will focus on the struggle 'against unemployment and for chaebol reform for the time being, and decide what to do in the local election after construction of new leadership", KCTU said.
Union of Mando Machinary Corp. announced rupture of negotiation for special contract, which had been dealt since Dec 6. Union's major demand was
1) More layoff due to normalization process or managerial reason must not be allowed.
2) In case of managerial decision such as third party takeover, split of company, disposal, or M&A, company must guarantee employment and succession of collective bargain and make an agreement with union in advance.' In addition to these demands, they argued that the owner should invest his personal property to solve the company's debt. But during negotiation on Feb 19, the management didn't admit their responsibility of default and compelled workers' onesided sacrifice. They demanded 'cut of welfare cost, unpaid temporary retirement, flexible working time, and wage curtailment.'
Meanwhile, the union decided to share burden, if the management guarantee employment and others. But before that, they decided to go on a strike from today, demanding company's acceptance of job security clause. 7 locals and 5,000 workers will participate in this strike.
Mando Machinery is a unit of Halla Group and leading automobile parts maker. The company defaulted on debt payment despite of being in the black, because of octopus-like management. Mando union has 7 locals and denounced KCTU's cancel of strike.
On Feb 17, auditory-handicapped Kim Jae-hoon(60 years old), who was selling crucian-shaped bread with small car, died during violent evacuation by Kangnam-Ku officials in front of Yoksam Station. Kangnam-Ku(a district of Seoul) Office didn't even send him to hospital and continued to evacuation. He is now in morgue in hospital.
In Korea, roadside selling without shop is illegal. But many poor people make their living by selling small goods or foods with rear-car, motorcycle-driven cart, or small truck. Seoul City authority and restrict offices always confiscate their goods and break their vehicles.
National Roadside Sellers' Federation and National Evacuated People's Federation (they are evacuated people from their house for municipal restructuring) held 'National Rally for the Punishment of the Responsible for Economic Turbulence and Obtainment of People's Living Rights' on Feb 20. May his soul rest in peace.
On Feb 16, EC held third meeting and discussed plans. They decided plans for further struggles; "First, we make fundamental reform on chaebol system and resistance to layoff and worker dispatch system as our central basis. Secondly, we fight for eradication of illegal labor measures. Thirdly, we make further struggle plans and prepare intensive struggle."
The two proposals for struggling workplace commission were presented. "1. We organize central struggling workplaces within each federation and KCTU summon commission at the time of intensive struggle. 2. We organize workplaces which are able to go out on strike and create general strike against layoff." But discussion on this was postponed.
KCTU decided cancel all-out strike (See PICIS Newsletter 4) on the basis of following reasons. "1. Subjective and objective situations are difficult for immediate general strike; In the situation that economic crisis continues and leadership is being reported as agreed on layoff, going on a strike will make KCTU being blamed as a criminal of economic turbulence and be likely to take away standing of fundamental reform like chaebol reform. We don't have as much organizational power as last general strike and immediate strike can bring neither revision of labor law nor political victory. We have now organizational conflict within us, so if we go out on strike, it may be harmful to us. If government arrest our organization and people don't support us, we can't fight for job security later."
These decisions and their basis have a lot of problems, we think.
1. The decision of 'cancellation of general strike' doesn't succeed Feb 9 representative meeting.
Emergency Committee's reasons for cancellation of strike were all predictable things. Moreover, contradiction between Feb 10's and Feb 12's decision is ridiculous. They decided strike on Feb 10 and cancelled it on Feb 12. They may expect change in a few days, or they decided strike forced by rank and file's explosion.
Anyway, we regard second decision(Feb 12) as betraying first decision. The phrase "representative meeting's decision is valid" is a deception on workers.
2. The reason of cancellation has a lot of problems.
Emergency Committee didn't think of breaking through difficult situation. They knelt down the situation, instead of solving it. Their reasons show no difference from bourgeois view, which three party should share burden to escape from economic crisis. After all, KCTU feels nervous about their image, instead of defending workers' rights through struggle.
They also argue that they don't have much organizational power and immediate strike can bring neither revision of labor law nor political victory. But though there will not be immediate benefit, we have to try our best. They should have organize strikes in at least some workplaces, create other subtactics, and hold rallies and demonstrations. We can't always go out on general strike, so we should throw away the thought that without general strike, there is no struggle. At least, they should have make bridges to further struggles, instead of doing nothing.
Thirdly, there was conflict in KCTU. As you know, KCTU is composed of many different industrial sections and as much political trends. But though the strike was cancelled, there remains such conflict. The results was feeling of powerlessness and suicide of a shipyard worker.
We regard KCTU as a symbol Korean workers' power. But their manner on tripartite commission and tactics afterwards was somewhat disappointing. We expect their further struggle and we'd like to participate in that.
1. PICIS has an journal which covers foreign movements. If you have a struggles you want to inform us or need solidarity struggle, send them to us.
2. If you have comments or anything, contact us.
3. If you support any struggle in Korea, send a message to us. We will translate it and publicise in Korean to the Korean workers.