Gyeongnam Metal Workers' Union General Strike Rally in Changwon... Over 2,000 Gathered

The simultaneous nationwide general struggle rally of the Metal Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) was held in Gyeongnam on the 31st.

The Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch held a rally at 3:30 p.m. at Mannam Square in Changwon, shouting, "Defend democratic unions and fight for the survival rights of workers and the people."

The Metal Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Gyeongnam Branch is holding a general strike rally in front of Mannam Square in Changwon, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Claiming that the government is branding unions as public security threats, they demanded ▲ cessation of union oppression and investigations ▲ abolition of the government's labor reform plan ▲ revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act ▲ increase of the minimum wage, and announced a general strike by the KCTU in July.

After the rally, they marched 2.1 km to the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office of the People Power Party in Palyong-dong, Uichang-gu.

Members of the Construction Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch are marching in a line toward the People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Office.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

On the sidewalk in front of the Provincial Assembly, the Construction Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch held a memorial and government condemnation rally for Yang Hoe-dong, a Construction Workers' Union official who self-immolated and died on the 1st, then moved toward the party office.

At the closing rally held on two lanes in front of the party office, union members from the Metal Workers' Union, Construction Workers' Union, and other KCTU Gyeongnam headquarters unions joined in large numbers, with the organizers estimating about 2,000 attendees.

To manage road congestion and prevent safety accidents caused by the rally, about 600 police officers from the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, Changwon Jungbu Police Station, and Changwon Seobu Police Station were deployed on site.