Prime Minster Koh Warns Government Sternly Deal with Illegal Strikes

The government said that it would sternly deal with illegal strikes and punish those who are found to have responsibility for leading illegal acts even after a labor dispute is settled.

The government decided to take a tougher position on militant labor strikes Wednesday at a policy coordination meeting on pressing state affairs presided over by Prime Minister Koh Gun at the central government building in downtown Seoul. Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Finance Kim Jin-pyo, Education Minister Yoon Duck-hong, Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil, Administration and Home Affairs Minister Kim Doo-kwan, Labor Minister Kwon Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for policy Kwon Oh-kyu and senior presidential secretary for state affairs Moon Jae-in attended the Wednesday meeting.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, the prime minister said, “All those who are responsible for illegal acts will be sternly punished. And the government will make utmost effort to correct labor unions` distorted ways of pushing through their demands by resorting to principles such as “action first and dialogue later” or “strike first and compromise later.”

Prime Minister Koh cited strikes demanding the abolition of the special economic zone law and guarantee of labor union members` participation in management as a typical example of illegal labor strikes driven by politics.

“Transportation union workers` strikes will take the inconvenience of the public hostage, whereas strikes by unionized workers of major manufacturing companies will undermine Korea`s economy. Those illegal and unreasonable labor activities undermining stability of ordinary citizens` daily life and national economy will not be accepted and tolerated by the public,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Koh continued, “The government will sincerely urge businesses and individual workplace across the nation to solve industrial conflicts through dialogue and compromise. And the government will continuously address reasonable issues brought up by labor unions through dialogue.”

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com