Metal Workers to Have 4-Hour Strikes

The Korean Metal Workers` Union, a subsidiary of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, decided to go on strikes for four hours on July 8 and 10, mainly at business establishments that did not take part in the general strike opposing U.S. beef imports.

Local chapters and units of the metal workers` union plan to have either two-hour strikes over two days or one four-hour strike, depending on the situation.

As many as 6,000 executive staffs will go on a strike for four hours Friday. If the union leader, Chung Gap-deuk, is arrested or police are dispatched to the labor union office, they will launch a general strike.

The union also decided to take part in the candlelight vigils actively in Seoul and other regions on days without strike schedules. It also plans to initiate regional strife denouncing the Labor Ministry and the prosecution.

Previously the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions staged a two-hour walkout on July 2, participated mainly by metal workers of Hyundai Motor Co.

The government identified it as an unlawful political strike and sent letters to union head Chung and 30 other staffs demanding them to present themselves to the police.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Motor chapter will decide the date for their partial strike today. It is set to have a four-hour strike of executive staffs on Friday.

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