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PICIS
Policy and Information Center for International Solidarity

Newsletter - Number 9

Monday, 16 March 1998

Edited by Anna

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

PICIS is now collaborating with KMWF. We will be in charge of international affairs of KMWF. Korean metal workers are going to make a employment security pact with management. But we have no experience like that. So if you have any materials on job security pact, please send them to us ASAP. And if you have anything to do with Korean metal workers, contact us.

Editor's notice

PICIS was established for joining in the international solidarity movement against neoliberalistic attacks by the transnational capital worldwide, as well as for launching practical international solidarity movement among South Korean progressive forces. We aim at not only sharing policies and information with foreign progressive organisations but also making practical supporting movement with workers' and peoples' struggles, who are suppressed and exploited. This newsletter contains Korean progressive forces' activities, and through this newsletter we want to contact and make solidarity with foreign activists and make practical activity with all of you.

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1. Kukje Precision Machinery Union Aquired Agreement on Recognition on the Union, Full Reinstatement of the Dismissed, And Layoff

Kukje Union reached an agreement with the company on Mar 6 after several adjournments and ruptures. On Mar 2, when the union leader submitted union establishment report to Daegu local labor office, he was kidnapped and robbed of the report by the company(he was released after 14 hours). Moreover, the company dismissed 17 unionists. After that, the union has sat-in in front of the company every day and night. From Mar 2 to Mar 6, 120 workers out of 200 participated in union, and KMWF(Korean Metal Workers Federation) and KCTU organized support action. So the company was forced to sit in negotiation table, and the result of agreement was favorable to the union. Dismissed workers and unionists clapped and cried over the agreement. They resolved to unite with union and decided to defend their rights against the company.

2. Tongil Heavy Industry Union started indefinite hunger strike

On Mar 11, 5 union leaders of Tongil Heavy Industry started hunger strike and the union went on partial strike, calling for the complete clearance of overdue wages. According to the union, the company have not paid 4 million won per worker including last year December bonus and anuary wage. Moreover, the Second factory has been operated only 10%, so workers have not been able to earn their living. "Workers have already a lot of debt, but the company didn't keep its promise on partial payment, so they have a lot of difficulty", one union staff said. The union will go on all-out strike if the company don't show visible measures for clearance of overdue wages and job security.

3. Medical Insurance Union Started to go on term-limited strike from Mar 13.

The Medical Insurance Union went on term-limited strike on Mar 13 and organized rallies all over the nation, demanding cancellation of unilateral employment plan by the Health-Social Affairs Ministry. 5,000 workers of the union held rallies in 17 cities and demanded cancellation of the employment plan and eradication of illegal labor practice. The union resolved strike on Feb 27 against "unilateral personnel rearrangement and wage cut". The union returned to their workplace on Mar 15, but will go on all-out strike if the collective bargaining ruptures.

4. Ulsan Local Headquarters of Democratic Taxi Workers' Union Will Go on Strike on Mar 24.

On Mar 13, after the breakup of wage bargain, Ulsan Local Headquarters of DTWU submitted industrial action adjustment report and announced they would go on strike. The labor and management have been negotiated on wage due to change of shift system. Because Ulsan City became wide-area city, present 4-shift system will change to 8-shift system, and taxi workers working time will increase from current 21 days to 26 days per month. According to this change, the union demanded increase of monthly wage from 430,000 to 720,000. But the company is rejecting it with an excuse of managerial crisis and the price increase of LPG. "The company has been rejecting wage increase and noticed 8-shift system unilaterally. Because they deny conversation itself, we have no choice but to go on strike", the union said, "We will go on strike as soon as local labor office's adjustment finishes." There are 600 unionists from 8 union in Ulsan Local Headquarters.

5. Sejin Computer forced retirement with a list of layoff target.

Sejin Computer made list of 500 workers and forced them voluntary resignation and the union is repelling strongly. According to the union, the company had made 'two party council on employment security' with the union, but they announced unilaterally they agreed with union on 500 dismissal list. The union announced all-out strike on this measure by the company. They will organize vote on strike and take immediate action. The Sejin Computer is notorous for oppressive measures on union. The management have forced military discipline to the workers and tried to prevent establishment of union.

PICIS's Opinion

Our hope for KCTU Leadership Candidates

Two runningmate(president and general secretary) candidates and 12 vice presidents stood up for the KCTU leadership election due to Mar 31. Jung Kab-deuk('97 president of Hyndai Group Unions' Federation) and Jang Woon(National University Workers' Federation), Lee Kab-yong('94 president of Hyndai Group Unions' Federation) and Ko Yong-joo('97 vice director of KCTU Political Bureau) stood up for the election.

The fact that Dan Byong-ho and other leadership have tried for unification of the candidates shows the meaning of this election. They have argued 'second leadership election should be a chance for healing distrust and rupture in KCTU after three party accord'.

First leadership of KCTU stood for 'KCTU with citizen'. But rank-and-file unionists have doubt if KCTU have been workers, who are the largest part of citizen, not having defended them against mass layoff. And also, left labor activists, who have maintained militant labor movement line, are questioning about 'legalization of KCTU'. First leadership are proud of the legalization, but a lot of workers are doubtful and critical on it.

Recent processes, tripartite agreement and rejection of it, declaration of general strike and cancellation of it, have shown incapability of the first leadership. They had no analysis and alternative for economic crisis, and couldn't make unification of workers and people.

Both candidates have "obtainment of employment security" and "building of strong KCTU" as a core slogan. All of workers want these, not with only a word but with real practice.

A Hyondai unionist's argue can be our demand. "Our union movement is now entering into new step. Junnohyup(National Workers' Association) was a first generation leadership and first leadership of KCTU was a second generation. If we can say the third leadership should go through low development period, how can we construct it? This should both overcome economic crisis idology and comprehend it. We should consider this point. So in such a scale, second leadership and leadership of KMWF, of which member is only 200,000 but has over half influence in KCTU, should be a new leadership of our struggle."

Notice

1. PICIS has a Korean journal which covers foreign movements. If you have struggles you want to inform us or need solidarity action, send them to us.

2. If you have comments or suggestion, contact us. We will translate and publicize them in Korea for the Korean workers.