Statement by 77 People Including Former Labor Minister Kim Dae-hwan
First Voice from Civic Groups, Not Economic Organizations
Minnochoong General Strike Violates Union Law's Purpose and Methods
Urging "Political Parties and Presidential Candidates to Demand Withdrawal of Minnochoong General Strike"
Members of the Metal Workers' Union, the largest industrial union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). (Image source=Yonhap News)
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The 'Job Solidarity,' a coalition of former high-ranking officials, academia, legal experts, and youth united to address domestic labor market issues, urged the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on the 18th to "withdraw the October 20 general strike."
Job Solidarity held a press conference in Yeouido, Seoul, that morning and released a statement with this message. The coalition is co-led by Kim Daehwan, Honorary Professor at Inha University and former Minister of Employment and Labor during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, with participation from Lee Geunmyeon, former head of the Ministry of Personnel Management (advisor), and Kim Taegi, Professor of Economics at Dankook University, among others.
Job Solidarity criticized the KCTU's general strike as a baseless struggle. They claimed that the so-called "powerful workers" led the fight with a focus on visibility while ignoring the will of the majority of workers. The statement pointed out, "KCTU members account for only 5.5% of all workers," and added, "Such KCTU is further widening the gap between the rich and the poor among workers."
Job Solidarity emphasized that the KCTU should respect employers' rights as much as workers' rights. They stated, "Labor movements are implemented to ensure that workers equally share the benefits of economic growth," and raised their voices, saying, "The KCTU's October 20 general strike is an anti-democratic and anti-civilized outrage that betrays the common sense and expectations of the public and conscientious union members."
They also pointed out that the purpose and methods of the KCTU's general strike constitute a 'political strike' that does not align with the intent of labor dispute actions. This aligns with the controversy over violations of the Trade Union Act raised during the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee's Employment and Labor Ministry audit on the 6th, concerning a series of KCTU dispute actions such as the occupation of workplaces by subcontracted workers at Hyundai Steel. At that audit, Im Ija, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out that the KCTU's dispute actions might violate the Trade Union Act, which stipulates that "the purpose and methods of union dispute actions must not violate social order, and under no circumstances should violence or destructive acts occur," and Minister of Employment An Kyungduk expressed agreement.
Job Solidarity criticized that "the core demands of the KCTU's general strike include abolishing irregular employment, comprehensive revision of labor laws, just industrial transition and state responsibility for jobs, and strengthening public services in housing, medical care, education, and care sectors, most of which go far beyond the scope of workplace labor-management issues." They added, "It is a political strike aimed at the presidential election," and stated, "Labor disputes arise from disagreements between unions and employers over wages, working hours, welfare, dismissal, and other working conditions, so the general strike conducted by the KCTU to enforce its core demands is by no means a legitimate dispute action."
They also criticized the government and political circles, saying they effectively condoned the KCTU's abnormal labor movement. Job Solidarity said, "The biggest fault lies with the government and politics responsible for safeguarding democracy and the rule of law, which allowed the KCTU to deviate from normal labor movements," adding, "They not only arbitrarily intervened in labor-management issues but also failed to establish laws and systems that balance power to enable labor and management to resolve disputes autonomously."
They continued, "In a clumsy attempt to stabilize labor-management relations, illegal and violent strikes were tolerated, and the minimum social responsibilities that unions must uphold were not enforced," and added, "Regardless of government or opposition, political parties and presidential candidates must demand the withdrawal of the KCTU's October 20 general strike and propose forward-looking labor reform measures."
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