Simultaneous General Strikes by KCTU... Influence Remains 'Minimal'

Democratic Labor Union Daejeon Headquarters and Cargo Solidarity officials are holding a general strike and all-out struggle rally in front of Kookmin Bank at Eunhasu Intersection, Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon on the afternoon of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) launched a general strike in support of the Cargo Solidarity strike. However, the impact is considered minimal as the three Hyundai Heavy Industries shipbuilding companies, including Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, did not participate in the strike.

On the 6th, the KCTU simultaneously held the 'Nationwide Simultaneous General Strike and All-Out Struggle Rally' in 15 regions across the country. The KCTU Incheon Headquarters gathered about 2,600 people in front of Incheon City Hall, about 2,500 in Gwangju, about 2,000 in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam regions, and about 1,200 in Busan, totaling around 20,000 people supporting the general strike.

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, said in a speech in front of the inland container terminal in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, "The cargo workers' cry to stop logistics and change the world is met with desperate resistance from those who refuse to change a world full of discrimination and exploitation," adding, "Attacking the KCTU under the pretext of cracking down on illegality is a crude labor perspective that regards the union itself as illegal."

However, the influence of the KCTU general strike is observed to be minimal. Workplaces without the right to strike chose to use leave instead of participating in the strike. Even workplaces with the right to strike have mostly completed negotiations on wages and collective agreements.

The joint strike of the three Hyundai Heavy Industries shipbuilding companies, which was expected to have a significant impact, was also postponed. Although they originally planned to participate in the KCTU general strike from this day, the Hyundai Heavy Industries union held the 36th negotiation at the Ulsan headquarters and reached a tentative resolution. Unless the result is overturned in the approval vote to be held for all union members on the 8th, the Hyundai Heavy Industries union will not participate in the general strike.

The Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering union and Hyundai Steel union also chose negotiations with management instead of striking. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering started formal negotiations with management from this day. The Hyundai Steel union suspended guerrilla strikes that had been ongoing since September and has been negotiating for two weeks.