[Focus] KEPCO union strike delay has repercussions

The trade union of Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has postponed its first-ever strike again, so it is expected that the balance of power between the union and the government over the issue of corporate restructuring will lean to the advantage of the government.

The union failed to obtain what it wanted through the negotiation with the government on Wednesday night. But it has decided to put off the projected strike, as it would be too burdensome to the union.

Particularly, it is believed that the union, which has no experience with striking, was worried about the criticism from the public.

Also, it is not certain how many union members would join the strike or whether some hard-line members would stop the power supply, which might trigger serious problems.

Under the circumstances, the union must have found a way to get out by taking advantage of the government announcement that it would pursue privatization on a gradual basis. Prior to this, the government and political leaders reportedly pressured union leader Oh Kyung-Ho to withdraw the strike plan.

However, at the same time, the union will face a burden of postponing the strike. It already has postponed it once, so another delay could trigger a protest from the union members and could have a negative influence on the overall labor strife.

With the KEPCO union's postponement of a strike, it is likely that the labor activists' winter strife would lose its momentum. Oh said that he would announce the union future plan for struggle on Thursday.

A union official said that it would begin a strike Dec. 4 unless the attitude of the government changes by Dec. 3. The National Assembly's committee on commerce, industry and energy is scheduled to pass the law on privatization of KEPCO on Dec. 4.

Still, it is unclear whether the union will go on strike even if the National Labor Relations Commission's special mediation ends in failure. Anyway, it seems that the winter strife, which include protests by financial institutions and public enterprises such as Korea Telecom and Korea National Railway, will lose their power.

For this reason, an official of the Federation of Korea Trade Unions criticized the KEPCO union, saying that the delay of a strike is a decision that he cannot understand.

Chung Yong-Kwan yongari@donga.com