|
|
Netscape Users: Click here to subscribe to the Korean Labour News Channel
Internet Explorer Users: Click here to subscribe to the Korean Labour News Channel.
|
Articles are listed with the most recent ones posted here first. Comments? New items? Click here.
January 1998
Unions Agree to Mass Layoffs?
- Labor Should Accept Layoff Scheme; A Joint Effort Over Labor Issues Joongang Ilbo 19.1.98
- Tripartite Commission to Issue Accord; Business, Labor, Government Reach Tentative Agreement Korea Herald 19.1.98
Both government and business representatives of the consultative group hope to produce an agreement on redundancies, which they say will strengthen the country's position in the debt rescheduling talks. But union members on the commission did not ease their opposition to the proposal during the over-the-weekend discussions. Labor's resistance forced the commission members to agree on a vague term of "ways to raise labor market flexibility" as one of the six agenda items. . . . The commission also agreed to "give positive consideration" to the call for granting amnesty to jailed labor activists.
- Unionists Hold Rallies Against Layoffs Korea Herald 19.1.98
Last Tuesday, the KCTU and the less-militant Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU) dropped their resistance and agreed to discuss layoffs with government and business leaders. But Friday, the KCTU, in what some described as an about-face and others saw as a negotiating tactic, stiffened its position, demanding that government officials responsible for the nation's financial plight be fired.
|
- Gov't Employees May Form Labor Union Korea Times 17.1.98
The Kim Dae-jung camp is considering allowing government employees to form labor unions . . . But he ruled out the possibility that teachers will be given the right to form labor unions.
- South Korea: The Revenge for Kwangju, by Terry Lawless International Viewpoint, January 1998
- Tripartite Committee to Try to Reach Agreement by End of This Month Korea Herald 16.1.98
Park In-sang, head of the nation's largest union group, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and Pae Sok-bom, acting president of the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, represent labor in the committee. The union leaders, however, made it clear that they will not let layoffs be introduced in a manner that passes the buck to workers only. They also demanded their proposals be discussed at length by the committee, fueling speculation that writing a negotiated social contract by the end of this month could prove difficult. Their proposals include the punishment of those responsible for the economic debacle and the provision of an expanded safety-net package for the jobless.
- Panel Seeks to Produce "Social Pact" for Layoffs, Pain-Sharing Korea Times 15.1.98
With most union members and its leaders still opposing a proposal to grant layoffs _ a critical part of the pact _ the course of reaching concensus [sic] will see many conflicting views. . . .
The first-day discussion focused on the critical issue of granting layoffs to financial industries, prior to all industrial sectors. Union leaders strongly opposed the idea, claiming that once permission is given to a specific sector of the economy, it will soon expand to include entire industries.
Kim Dae Jung Promises Not to Railroad Through New Labour Legislation; Unions Agree to Talk
General Strike Averted -- For Now
|
- Union Leaders Meet with Camdessus Korea Herald 14.1.98
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the nation's second largest but most militant labor body, also told that massive layoffs will cause immense social unrest. Opposing the early introduction of layoffs, KCTU leaders, including union leaders of financial institutes, have held an indefinite sit-in protest in Seoul since Monday. Both the FKTU and KCTU leaders demanded that the National Assembly session scheduled Jan. 15-17 to legalize layoffs, first in financial sectors, should be postponed.
Latest press releases from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
|
-
S.Korea bids for unity on reforms Yahoo! News (UPI) 13.1.98
- ICFTU Online: Mass dismissals in Korea: the trade unions go on the offensive
- Korean workers threaten national strikes USA Today (Associated Press) 12.1.98
A maverick labor group that forced the government to retract a similar proposal in early 1997 issued a statement Monday that it would organize nationwide strikes to oppose the bill.
"We demand that punishment of those responsible for the economic crisis and an overhauling of chaebol (conglomerates) should come first," said the group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
The confederation, which claims a membership of 500,000 in auto, shipbuilding, steel and many other key industries, has taken part in many violent street protests.
The mainstream Federation of Korean Trade Unions, which claims 1.5 million members, mostly white-collar and small-business, also opposes layoffs but it has been pro-establishment.
With little public support for any radical labor protests in the midst of an economic crisis, it is unclear whether the militant unions would be able to organize efficient nationwide strikes.
- Financial Sector Employees Protest Layoffs Korea Herald 12.1.98
The Korean Federation of Financial-Institution of Labor Unions (KOFU) said in its statement that they will protest "indefinitely" beginning with a massive labor union rally in Seoul today. The rally, to be joined by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), will occur in front of President-elect Kim Dae-jung's party building in Yoido.
- Labor Unions Oppose Industry-Wide Layoffs Korea Times 10.1.98
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions will not take part in the "Labor, Management, Politics Consultative Body" unless the National Assembly withdraws its plan to legalize industry-wide layoffs.
- Union Objection Hampers Panel Formation Korea Herald 9.1.98
The second largest but most militant labor group, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, demanded the layoff issue be excluded from the panel discussion. It even threatened a general strike unless its demands for "full supplementary measures" are met.
- Employers Call for Expansion of Massive Layoff Plan Korea Herald 9.1.98
The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) yesterday called for the government to introduce the massive layoff system, now being considered for ailing financial service firms, in the industrial sector as well and at the earliest possible date.
- Suh Joon-sik: Trial to begin 15 January
Countdown begins
for a renewal of the general strike?
- In South Korea, employees brace for IMF reforms CNN 8.1.98
- KCTU Toughens Stance Against Layoffs Korea Herald 7.1.98
"If the body simply paves the way to legalize layoffs, trade unions will reject it," the KCTU statement said, adding that its stance could become harsher. In a related development, the coalition of 23 unions of Hyundai Group subsidiaries said yesterday that it will finish voting by Jan. 10 on whether or not to strike against the government's proposed legalization of layoffs.
The coalition, the KCTU's major umbrella union, said it will decide on how and when to strike at a meeting of its union leaders on Jan. 16. Thirty-two other KCTU member unions in Ulsan said they will follow the Hyundai Group labor unions, adding they will cast their votes by Jan. 15.
KCTU leaders have charged that the country should first punish public officials and large business owners "responsible for the current economic failure." They said that the government is trying to "pass the buck to only workers."
- Two Kims Call for Reform of Chaebols, Labor Cooperation Korea Herald 7.1.98
The President-elect said he and President Kim ask for labor unions' cooperation for their move to legalize redundancies. Hardline labor groups have already threatened to launch strikes in opposition to mass layoffs.
|
|
