Seoul Metro union quits umbrella labor confederation

The Seoul Metro union declared its withdrawal from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Friday. Metro unionists voted 4,346 (53.2 percent) to 3,822 (46.8 percent) with 29 null and void votes to leave the umbrella union.

The result is forecast to bring changes to the domestic labor community, which is dominated by the militant confederation and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.

Over three days from Wednesday, 94.9 percent or 8,197 of 8,636 metro union members voted to leave the confederation. The same vote was held in December 2009, but the effort to withdraw failed as 54.6 percent opposed the idea.

Sixteen months later, the union bolted from the umbrella labor group.

"There was a consensus that we can no longer advocate the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, which has been political and unconditionally favored North Korea,” said Seoul Metro union leader Jeong Yeon-su. "We will launch a new union and be reborn as a union that serves the people as well as its members.”

As a result, a third labor organization is expected to arise to compete with the two umbrella labor groups.

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