AUT: [kctupower] KCTU News Alert - Hunger Strike/Sit-in Demonstration

[eugene <eugene@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

KCTU NEWS ALERT ? Sep. 22th

Hunger Strike/Sit-in Demonstration to Protest South Korean Government¡¯s
Proposed Legislation on Irregular Workers

On September 16, 2004, the Ministry of Labor held a meeting at the Uri
Party (the ruling party) headquarters to discuss the government¡¯s proposed
legislation on irregular workers.  Immediately following the conference, at
2:30 pm, close to 100 union leaders and members of the National Preparatory
Committee of Irregular Workers Unions conducted an emergency sit-in
demonstration at Uri Party¡¯s executive offices located at the second floor
of the building.  The National Preparatory Committee is comprised of unions
affiliated with both the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and
the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and other labor rights groups
representing irregular (non-permanent, temporary, contract, subcontract,
self-employed, etc.) workers.

The group was protesting the details of the proposed labor bills, which the
unions believe would worsen the situation of irregular workers in terms by
increasing the number of irregular workers and furthering discrimination
against irregular workers.  The group requested a meeting with Uri Party
leaders.  The Uri Party agreed to meet with only three to five union
representatives and if all union members left the premises.  The group
agreed to the Uri Party¡¯s condition concerning union members but stated
that the party leaders must meet with all thirteen union representatives.
After the union members left, Uri Party representatives rescinded their
original agreement and refused to meet with union representatives.  Lee Byu
Young, a former democracy leader and currently Chair of the Uri Party has
now stated that he and other party leaders will only meet with the union
representatives if they apologize for the impromptu sit-in demonstration
and leave the party headquarters.

The union representatives have refused this new stipulation.  On September
17, at 11:00 am, the group held a press conference, where they announced
that they would be conducting a hunger strike until Uri Parity officials
meet with them to address their concerns about the proposed legislation as
well as discuss alternatives in resolving the irregular workers issue.
Currently fourteen union leaders representing irregular workers and labor
rights groups are participating in the hunger strike.

Supporters of the hunger strikers held a rally in front of the Uri Party
headquarters at 2:00 pm. Although the demonstration participants attempted
to enter the building to meet with union leaders, they were blocked by over
200 riot police, who were tightly lined row after row.  A confrontation
ensued between the police and the demonstrators.  In the end, the Uri Party
agreed for five group representatives to enter the building to express
support to the hunger strikers.

Despite the stubbornness of the Uri Party leaders in refusing to meet them,
the union representatives are determined to continue with the hunger strike
until their demands are met, as more than over 6 million irregular workers
are awaiting concrete changes that would improve their lives.

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Statement by the National Preparatory Committee of Irregular Workers Unions
September 18, 2004

Trade unionists who are facing labor repression from government and employers:

On September 16, 2004, we, union leaders of irregular workers¡¯ unions
forcibly entered the executive offices located in the second floor of the
Uri Party (ruling party) headquarters and conducted an impromptu sit-in
demonstration in protest over the government¡¯s proposed legislation on
irregular (non-permanent, contract, subcontract, temporary, short-term,
etc.) workers.  On September 17, we decided to start a hunger strike.

The Roh Moo Hyun administration and the Uri party has stated that the new
proposed legislation will improve the lives of irregular workers and end
discrimination against irregular workers.  However, in reality, the
proposed legislation will turn all of the 14 million South Korean workforce
into irregular workers.  Consequently, there will no longer be a regular
(permanent) workforce.  Instead, a new class of ¡°slaves¡± will be
established.  Because of this, we refuse to leave the Uri party
headquarters on our own free will.  They will have to forcibly remove us.

The Roh administration, employers, and the mass media have joined in full
force to basically hide the truth about the contents and impact of the new
labor bills on South Korean workers.  The public is lead to believe that
the proposed legislation will improve the lives of irregular workers and it
will only affect irregular workers.  However, if one were to carefully
scrutinize the contents of the bill, it is quite clear that the main
objective of the bill is to irregularize the workforce and put an end to
the alliance between regular and irregular workers.  Since irregular
workers already face heavy discrimination and are paid less with out any
benefits in comparison to regular workers, the proposed legislation cannot
make their lives any worse than it is.  The real target of the bill is the
permanent workforce.

There are many permanent workers who believe that their union is strong
enough that they will not be impacted by this bill.  However, let us not
forget what happened in 1998 when the government introduced a series of
labor laws that no longer guaranteed job security for workers.  At that
time, we could not overcome the rigid mindset of ¡°our company,¡± ¡°our
region,¡± and ¡°our city¡± and unite to stop anti-worker, anti-labor
reforms of 1998.  We must never forget what happened in 1998 and learn from
our past mistakes

Although there may be some regular workers who may initially not be
affected by the proposed legislation and they will continue to keep their
permanent work status, one should not underestimate the Roh administration.
 It is the intention of the Roh Moo Hyun government to emplace an income
cap forcing workers into early retirement resulting in companies to hire
irregular workers to replace the outgoing regular workforce.  Through this
process, the strength and the power of unions representing regular workers
will be undoubtedly weaken.
Currently only 26 types of industries can hire temporary, contract workers
but the new proposal will allow all industries to hire irregular workers.
In addition, the year of contractual service will increase from two to
three years.  According to the proposed labor bills, after three years,
employers must make contract workers permanent.  Yet, why would employers
hire permanent workers, when they will now be able to hire cheaper contract
labor more easily due to the new proposed bills.  The new workforce
entering the labor marked will now consist of irregular workers.

The government¡¯s proposals will increase the number of irregular workers,
and thus, the irregular workforce will now be the ¡°regular¡± workforce.
Currently irregular workers face immense discrimination in terms of wages,
working conditions, and benefits but the proposed bills will now
¡°legalize¡± discrimination against irregular workers.  Additionally, the
South Korean government along with the Uri party is attempting to prohibit
a possible alliance and solidarity between regular and irregular workers
through the proposed labor bills.

To regular workers supporting irregular workers and working towards ending
discrimination against irregular workers;

If we are unable to force the Roh administration from rescinding the
proposed legislation, then we will be leaving a dark stain in the history
of the South Korean labor movement.  Furthermore, if the proposed bills
become a reality, then the new workforce, which basically will be irregular
workers, will lose their belief in the power of the labor movement.  In the
end, this will lead to an end in worker unit and could in fact destroy the
labor movement.  We cannot let this happen.

We have announced our intention to enter a hunger strike.  Why have we
chosen to take this drastic resort?  We are protesting the proposed bills,
which we believe will further worsen the working conditions of irregular
workers.  We also want to shed light to the government¡¯s real objective in
proposing this legislation---irregularizing the regular workforce.  In
other words, it is the intention of the Roh Moo Hyun government and the Uri
party to make regular workers irregular workers rather than making
irregular workers regular workers, as Roh Moo Hyun promised during his
Presidential campaign.  To stop the government¡¯s plan, we are conducting
the hunger strike.

Activist fighting globalization and ending discrimination of irregular
workers;

The proposed labor bills is far worse than the 1998 labor bills, where
thousands of workers were forced into early retirement.  The new proposals
are much worse and it will make workers¡¯ lives in South Korea far worse
than it is now, as 14 million workers will now become irregular workers.
This is the government and the ruling party¡¯s plan.

It is clear from the contents of the government¡¯s proposal, Roh¡¯s
administration has not taken into account the demands and suggestions made
by the labor movement in addressing the problems faced by irregular
workers.  The government is basically not taking seriously and in a sense
they are ¡°laughing¡± at us.  The government¡¯s actions are a result of the
government¡¯s neo-liberal policies and continuous repression of trade union
rights.

Only through workers solidarity and through a massive, unified General
Strike, can we stop the government from introducing the proposed
legislation.  Through a General Strike we will be able to show the power
and unity of regular and irregular workers.  In the same way we were able
to mobilize workers to participate in the 1998 General Strike, let us do
the same thing to put an end to the government¡¯s plans.  Although there
are many who may believe that our problems will not be resolved through a
General Strike, it is our steadfast belief that only through a General
Strike, can we resolve the current problems facing us.

Only if the labor movement is successful in mobilizing a unified, strong
front to participate in the General Strike, then, can we expect the support
of the young workers, women workers, democratic activist and the poor and
homeless.  Only if workers unite and show solidarity, then, we will
undoubtedly gain the strong support from other sectors in South Korean
society.

Prior to the sit in demonstration and hunger strike, we, members of the
National Preparatory Committee of Irregular Workers Unions, had already
planned to coordinate a National Day of Actions on highlighting irregular
workers on October 10, 2004.  This will proceed as planned.  Should the
proposed legislation be introduced in the National Assembly, then, we vow
to call for a one-day General Strike.

We understand that we have chosen a treacherous and difficult road and as
we proceed on this road, we recognize that we could be imprisoned, be
fired, or possibly be physically injured.  Nevertheless, we will continue
to take this road until the very end.  Let us all work together in unity
and participate in the General Strike.  We must not remain idle and just
watch the proposed legislation be introduced and then eventually passed in
the National Assembly.  We cannot and should not do this.  It is not a
losing battle.  The power and the strength for us to improve the lives of
14 million South Korean workers lay in our hands.  Through solidarity
between regular and irregular workers, we will able to win this battle.

Towards a national democratic general strike!
Regular workers and irregular worker¡¯s solidarity strike!
Stop proposed labor reforms that will worsen irregular worker¡¯s lives!
Propose labor laws that will protect worker rights!


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