KCTU Announces Plans for Large Scale Strikes in June

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) yesterday announced its plan for “large-scale strikes in June,” declaring “massive general summer strikes.”

During a press briefing at KCTU headquarters in Seoul, the spokesman said that massive strikes by industries are scheduled starting June. He explained, “Health and medical labor unions will go on strike on June 10, and taxi drivers union and whole federations are planning strikes on June 16.” The metalworkers’ union is scheduled to take a four-hour strike on June 16.

“I suggested that each industry should make a successful agreement between laborers and employers by June 10 through an intensive negotiation process,” said Lee Soo-ho, the secretary-general of the KCTU. “It is time to normalize the devastating relationship between the two sides. Most of all, the efforts of laborers and management are the most important thing.”

Lee added that labor unions will do their best not to go on strikes, and that their struggles will look more different than those of the past years. He said, “We will try not to go on illegal strikes as much as we can. Moreover, health and medical labor unions will leave necessary workers behind at emergency rooms and intensive care units, so that they can minimize inconveniences of the people.”

The KCTU also announced its 10 objectives, including: abolishing the part-time working system; applying the full-scale five-day workweek plan and increasing the number of jobs; improving the minimum wage system; negotiations with industries; withdrawing the troops dispatched to Iraq; discontinuing the FTA between Korea and Japan; and increasing the budget for social welfare.

The KCTU will hold a large-scale gathering in front of the National Assembly on June 4, with 2,000 leaders of the workplace planning to attend. Laborers will assemble across the nation at the same time on June 16, and also will demonstrate in defense of the minimum wage on June 24 -25.

Jong-Hoon Lee taylor55@donga.com