Opposition to Umbrella Union’s Strike Plan Growing

Opposition is growing within the labor community to the general strike planned by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions in protest of U.S. beef imports and the planned privatization of public corporations.

Many member unions are negative over striking for political purposes instead of wage negotiations. More organized workers are thus voting not to join the strike.

The Labor Ministry said yesterday that 287 member unions of the confederation voted whether to strike between Tuesday and Saturday last week.

As of yesterday, 62,760 out of 77,729 unionized workers at 87 workplaces took part in the voting, with 56.7 percent favoring the planned strike.

The Hyundai Motor chapter of the Korea Metal Workers’ Union had 38,637 members take part in the vote. Though 55.95 percent approved the strike, the move was voted down due to the lack of a majority.

A source at the Hyundai chapter said, “As the vote was decided by the labor confederation and the votes must be counted, we’ll announce only the approval ratio without disclosing the number of unionized workers at Hyundai Motor.”

The chapter, however, said it will actively participate in the strike if the confederation proceeds with the strike.

Only 43.5 percent of unionists at Ssangyong Motors voted to strike. At Ajou University Hospital, only 436 members participated in the vote, with 34.8 percent favoring the strike. Overall, unions at 16 workplaces rejected going on strike.

At GM Daewoo Motors, 52.1 percent opted to strike and the figure at Kia Motors was 59.2 percent.

The umbrella union will hold a news conference today to announce the outcome of votes and a timeline for its strike.

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