Roh Reiterates Firm Position on Labor Disputes

President Roh Moo-hyun said on June 19 in relation to the recent labor disputes, that the “labor movement used to keep its legitimacy as it broke into the sphere of the right to live and the democracy movement, but recent cases show a lack of responsibility and morality overall.”

He emphasized that the government should show a dignified attitude and keep up with the unreasonable demands from labor unions at the chief secretary and assistants` meeting the same day.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tae-young said in connection with the above, that the home guidance division of the labor union entered into negotiations with the precondition of a walkout rather than coming to the bargaining table or upsetting mutual agreements in a biased manner. It seems that this refers to certain occasions, and explained that “it is of secondary emphasis to show the government`s position that unreasonable behavior violating public welfare, or illegal strikes will be coped with in a stern manner.”

The spokesperson also said that the government had made efforts to solve the problem through dialogue so far, but if the labor unions bring forward matters that the government had already dealt with, the principles will be stated more firmly and will be handled immediately.

President Roh received the report on the Public Official Panel Group from Chief Secretary Park Joo-hyun and reiterated that this ‘group for reformation’ is not called the ‘2nd national foundation committee’, but is merely a group of people who are aware of the reformation task and are showing their participation.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com