"Minnochoong General Strike Will Not Gain Any National Sympathy"
Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 'Gyeongnam Election Committee Appointment Ceremony' held on the afternoon of the 19th at the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office in Uichang-gu, Changwon. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has announced plans to proceed with a general strike and large-scale rallies on the 20th, while Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, criticized, "The KCTU's general strike will not gain any public sympathy."
On the 19th, Yoon posted on his Facebook under the title "KCTU General Strike, Please Think of the People First." He stated, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire nation has endured daily inconveniences, but only the KCTU has been forcing large-scale illegal rallies across the country, refusing to share the burden."
He continued, "This time, they are even demanding the release of Chairman Yang Kyung-soo. It means they intend to hold illegal rallies for those arrested due to illegal assemblies."
He added, "Last month, the KCTU-affiliated Cargo Solidarity was publicly condemned. They monopolized work for their union members, excluded other workers, and even resorted to strikes holding powerless self-employed people hostage." He wrote, "The Cargo Solidarity's slogan was 'Stop logistics to change the world,' but in reality, wasn't it 'Seize logistics to stop livelihoods'?"
He said, "When the KCTU Cargo Solidarity stopped logistics using violence, self-employed people gave up their business that day, and a parcel delivery agency owner left a note saying the conflict with the union was 'like hell' before taking an extreme step." He criticized, "This time, the KCTU strike reportedly involves active participation from school irregular workers engaged in childcare and care services. Are they planning to hold a strike holding children hostage?"
Yoon stated, "The KCTU is no longer the underdog. It is a vested interest group that plunders self-employed people, youth, and even fellow workers." He added, "The labor market rigidity created by the KCTU and the pro-union policies of the Moon Jae-in administration have resulted in the disappearance of youth jobs. They can be called a 'future plundering force.'"
Meanwhile, the KCTU announced that it will hold large-scale general strike rallies simultaneously nationwide on the 20th. The strike demands include three main goals: ▲abolition of irregular employment and comprehensive revision of labor laws ▲job security guaranteed by the state, including prohibition of layoffs during the COVID-19 disaster period ▲reduction of defense budget and strengthening of publicness in housing, medical care, education, and care services.
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