FKTU Starts General Strikes Today

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) decided to wage general strikes on June 30, in which 110,000 workers including taxi and bus drivers nationwide will participate. The FKTU also plans large-scale rallies in five cities around Korea, including Seoul and Busan.

If public transportation workers go on strike, following the subway union workers` walkout, severe traffic congestion is expected.

The FKTU announced yesterday that it would hold nationwide rallies in five cities, such as Seoul, Busan, Ulsan, Daejeon, and Gwangju on June 30, where 55,000 members will hold demonstrations. They plan to denounce the current administration‘s failed reforms, as seen in the police intervention of subway workers` protests.

In front of Jongmyo Park, Jongno Seoul, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. on June 30, a rally of 200,000 workers calling for the introduction of a five-day workweek, the cessation of discrimination against temporary and contract workers, the granting of employee status to workers in specific fields, as well as a guarantee for the three basic rights for workers.

In addition, the FKTU pledged to ask for labor rights for government workers, a work permit system for foreign workers, and a minimum wage increase as well as overall wage system improvement.

After the rally, protestors will take to the streets in front of the YMCA building on Jongno along with 1000 taxis and 110 container vehicles, most likely causing severe traffic congestion in the downtown area.

The FKTU said that except for Seoul, 35,000 union members would gather for the general strike in Busan, Ulsan, Daejeon, and Gwangju.

The nation`s umbrella union of workers also estimated that a total of 113,600 people would attend the June 30 protests across the nation. Among them, 106,215 are members of the national union of taxi drivers, 1,000 are bus drivers from Seoul, 3,000 workers in pubic service, and 1,300 chemical and metal workers.

Kyung-Joon Chung news91@donga.com