PICIS Newsletter 23.3.98

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PICIS
Policy and Information Center for International Solidarity

Newsletter - Number 10

Monday, 23 March 1998

Edited by Anna

NOTICE : Correction - There might have been some misunderstanding. We are only one of organizations which support KMWF concerning international work, outside of it.

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.

Website : http://kpd.sing-kr.org/~picis
E-mail : hanboss@nownuri.net, hanboss@mail.nownuri.net
Address : PICIS, 1578-3, Woosung Bdg. 5F, Shilim1Dong, Kwanak-Ku, Seoul, Korea
Mailinglist : list@mail.sing-kr.org (To join, send a message to this address, with the word 'subscribe picis' as the only text in the message)

INTERNATIONAL ACTION DAY

Thanks for the solidarity activities! We are also preparing demonstration with other Korean movement groups. We are contacting Minkahyup and Sarangbang Group for Human Rights. But it takes more time so that we might gather more groups. We'll inform you as soon as prepared. And if you send protest message, send us the copy of it.

HEADLINES

1. Brutality of Inchon Detention House Repressing Human Rights of Political Prisoners

Accoring to the extra issue No.5 by 'Joint Committee for Abolition of National Security Law and Release of Prisoned Commrades', Inchon Detention House didn't allow families' to send a letter, and searched prisoners naked before their meeting lawyers. There are 11 prisoners of 'Democratic Working Youth in Buchon' in the prison. These measures violate law on penology allowing correspondence. The letter, which was sent to prisoners and prevented by the authority, said, "Should unconvicted prisoner's rights be suppressed, by the reason of his being in prison or his being public security offender? How they have rights of censorship?. The prison authority is violating freedom of thought and rights of presuming to be innocent, which are preserved by the constitution...In the nation where the freedom of thought and expression is guaranteed, the censorship by thought is both out of date and against the law...Moreover, the detention house is censoring correspondence by scissoring, and is infringing the freedom of expression and rights of knowledge."

Furthermore, the prison officials searched prisoners' bodies before meeting their lawyers for preparing trial. The authority said there is possibility of destroying evidence and took off their all clothes. They even don't publicize interview time and allow the time arbitrarily. And also, the authority is forcing prisoners to learn Chinese letter, and allow one more hairwashing time for prisoners who pass an Chinese letter exam.

They are oppressing human rights through surveillance and control. The Democratic Working Youth in Buchon is local labor youth movement organization. On November 17 last year, 12 member of the group was arrested and indicted as organizing and joining pro-Pyongyang organization. The remaining members and families built the joint committee and are working for their release. The committee is revealing these brutality, and preparing Constitutional petition against censorship.

Protest Message
Tel : Inchon Detention House : ++82 32 868 8771
Director of Inchon Detention House : ++82 32 8681999
Fax : ++82 32 868 8776
Solidarity Message
Joint Committee for Abolition of National Security Law and Release of Prisoned Commrades
Tel : ++82 32 652 1829
Email : lovetime@nownuri.net

2. KMWF demands 'central collective bargain' to Korean Employers' Confederation

Korean Metal Workers' Federation, which represents 190,000 workers from 180 unions, proposed cental collective bargain officially to KEC, but KEC rejected it.

KMWF demanded to establish all employers' federation or entrust collective bargain to any employers' organization. KMWF also demanded same-number-meeting to bargain about establishing of industrial bargain, wage negotiation, employment negotiation, joint collective bargain, and each nation's complementory demands.

Followings are concrete demands.

wage increase from 6.6% to 9%
establishment of 'joint research committee on wage system' by May 30, singular bargain on industry-wide wage system
measure to unemployment : establishment of job security fund in the ratio of 1(union) : 3(management), for 'employment information center' and 'job training center'.
creating of 'central works council(composed of represents of labor and management) in metal industry' for negotiation and coordination on current affairs, and for the stabilization of industrial relationship.

But KEC rejected this proposal, saying about different conditions among workplaces, current restructuring, and condition needing renegotiation in each company.

Meanwhile, The number of unions that entrusted bargain rights is 48, 20% of total unionists, and major unions, such as Kia Motors and Hyundai Motors, will give entrustment to KMWF. So the total number of it will be over 70%.

Dan Byong-ho, the president of KMWF, said, "Though it will take a lot of years, we will keep on struggling for central collective bargain." KMWF will compose central bargain group as soon as entrustment process finishes.

SHORT LABOR NEWS

1. Suspension of indictment on union activists

8 labor activists, including ex-president of KCTU Kwon Yong-kil who had been charged with interference in the execution of companies' duty during last years' general strike, was suspended of indictment, for 'they participated in the attempt of recovering from economic crisis with agreement on three party accord'.

2. 2 millions of unemployeed workers, sleeping in subway station and impotent government

At present, the number of unemployeed people sums to 1.65 million(Labor Ministry statistics), and the prediction of it is at most 2 million. Because of high unemployment and bankruptcy, 5,000 people are sleeping roadside or in subway stations. Lee Ki-ho, Labor Minister, reported 1,000 billion won should be invested for supporting one million of unemployeed people, but the real number is far beyond this number. Moreover, most of government's current measures are not being implemented now.

Meanwhile, the KCTU announced that they would build 7 'job information and training centers' and establish 'alliance of jobless'. And the Korean Federation of Construction Trade Unions(KFCTU) has already formed a labor organization for the unemployed, the first jobless' organization in Korea.

In Korea, by lack of industry-scale unions, jobless worker can't be a member of union, and the jobless alliance is not recognized legally.

3. American Chamber of Commerce in Korea ignoring ILO standards

On Mar 18, ACCK called for the repeal of the labor law clause which allowed multiple trade unions to work for the workers. It also asked the Korean government to revise the labor law which would permit the establishment of a trade union only with the participation of 51% employees who were qualified to become a union member. Severe restrictions on the right to strike were recommended for the Korean government to adopt. Moreover, it requested the abolition of annual holidays and asked either to abolish menstruation leaves or to make them without pay.

The KCTU and FKTU condemned this request as an infringement on national sovereignty and violation of ILO Conventions.

4. (Preliminary) Public Workers' Union to participate in the KCTU

(Preliminary) Public Workers' Union decided to join the KCTU right after inauguration. There will be 100,000 unionists from 15 unions in inauguration council. If PWU join, the number of KCTU will have 630,000 workers.

5. Jung Kab-deuk, candidate for KCTU leadership election proposed Mayday strike

Jung proposed Lee Kab-yong, another candidate, that 'we should launch Mayday general strike against mass layoff and for chaebol reform'. Lee said that general strike should not be an slogan for election, but in the principle of real strike based on massive workers, he would agree with it.

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.