The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU), which has announced a general strike on the 13th, will hold a pre-strike rally on the 12th, entering the final countdown to the strike.
On the same day at 6 p.m., KHMU will simultaneously hold pre-strike rallies nationwide, including at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, declaring the start of the general strike. About 800 union members from the Ewha Medical Center branch, along with KHMU Chairperson Na Soon-ja, are expected to participate in the pre-strike rally held at Ewha Hospital. The rally will proceed in the order of Chairperson Na’s opening speech, screening of a video outlining the seven major demands of the sector-wide general strike, reports on negotiation progress and struggle organization, and explanations of the strike schedule.
The Health and Medical Workers' Union held a press conference on the 10th to announce the planned general strike scheduled for the 13th and other related actions. [Photo by Health and Medical Workers' Union]
KHMU plans to commence an indefinite general strike from 7 a.m. on the 13th as scheduled if healthcare institutions as employers and the government do not present practical and progressive alternatives. The union explained that approximately 65,000 members from 127 branches (145 workplaces) nationwide will participate in the strike.
KHMU demands the following seven major issues: ▲ full expansion of the integrated nursing and caregiving service to resolve expensive caregiving fees ▲ institutionalization of a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:5 and establishment of appropriate staffing standards for patient safety ▲ expansion of physician workforce to eradicate unlicensed illegal medical practice ▲ expansion of public healthcare responsible for essential medical services ▲ support for recovery hospitals to normalize COVID-19 dedicated hospitals ▲ fair compensation for COVID-19 heroes ▲ implementation of the September 2 government-labor agreement.
The union stated, "This strike is a strike to protect the lives and health of the people," adding, "During the general strike, KHMU will expose the realities of medical sites facing patient harm due to staff shortages and the crisis of collapse in essential and public healthcare, and will carry out struggles together with citizens."
On the day of the general strike, the 13th, KHMU plans to hold the first-day general strike rally at 1:30 p.m. in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, with union members who have come from across the country. Following this, on the 14th, regional base strikes and nationwide base strikes will be conducted, with general strike rallies held respectively in Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Sejong.
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