INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)
ICFTU OnLine
161/980710/DD
Brussels July 10 1998 (ICFTU OnLine): ICFTU General Secretary
Bill
Jordan is sending a message of solidarity to the two Korean trade
unions, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and the
Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) for the mass rally which
the trade
unions are holding this Sunday afternoon, July 12, at the Yoido
HanKang
Civic Park.
The unions have called the rally to protest at the deterioration
of
working and livings standards, brought about by the government's
enforced restructuring programmes. In particular the unions will
be
protesting at restructuring programmes in the financial and public
sectors, carried out without union agreement, which have led to
massive
redundancies, without adequate social protection for those who
have been
sacked.
Although the unions are frustrated by the government's actions,
they are
stressing that they are not withdrawing from the Tripartite Commission
set up to tackle the economic crisis and to help rebuild the country's
economy. As part of their demands, the unions will be urging the
government to speed up political and economic change as a precursor
to
improving the economic crisis, to investigate management misconduct
of
labour practices, and to urge the government to stop further layoffs
of
workers.
In their letter of support the ICFTU is urging the government
and the
employers to work with the unions on industrial restructuring,
including
relaunching companies facing severe financial difficulties, putting
in
place social measures for workers who are made redundant, and
to extend
the social security system. They are also urging the international
financial institutions to give financial support to industrial
restructuring and reform programmes in the country.
The Rally, is being organised jointly by the ICFTU's two Korean
affiliates the FKTU and KCTU, and the organisers are estimating
that
more than 100,000 trade unionists and their families will take
part, in
what promises to be a lively occasion with songs, labour bands,
declarations and addresses.
For further information, please contact the ICFTU Press Office
on: 322
224 0212
Visit our website at: http://www.icftu.org