Party and Government "Preparing for Health Workers' Union General Strike... Maintaining Essential Medical Services in Emergency and Operating Rooms"

19 Years Since Last, Health and Medical Workers' Union Under Minnocho's General Strike
Jo Gyu-hong "If Public Life and Health Are Severely Affected,
We Will Respond Firmly According to Law and Principles"

The People Power Party and the government announced on the 13th that they have prepared emergency medical measures to ensure that essential medical services such as emergency rooms and operating rooms are not interrupted in preparation for the general strike by the health and medical labor unions.

On the same day, the party and government held a 'Health and Medical Related Issues Review Meeting' at the National Assembly to comprehensively review matters in preparation for the general strike by the Health and Medical Industry Labor Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The medical union began the general strike from 7 a.m. that day. It was reported that surgery schedules and other appointments are being postponed due to the strike.

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong is giving a briefing on the results of the health and medical issues review meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

After the meeting, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong stated in a briefing, "We have established a cooperative system with local governments, hospitals, associations, and medical institutions to ensure that essential medical services such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, and operating rooms operate without disruption." He added, "We will hold emergency situation review meetings with the heads of tertiary general hospitals where strikes are planned, and if hospitalization is unavoidable, patients will be promptly transferred to nearby hospitals to prevent any gaps in medical care."

Minister Cho said, "The government and local governments have agreed to provide necessary support," and added, "Individual hospitals have been instructed to reorganize work shifts to prepare alternative personnel deployment in emergencies to minimize patient inconvenience. The government also plans to support these hospitals by providing necessary personnel and establishing cooperative systems with nearby medical institutions."

The government has emphasized that it has announced a policy to improve the working environment of health and medical personnel starting from January this year and is currently conducting discussions on this matter. Minister Cho stated, "It is not appropriate to force the government to establish and announce policies timed with the KCTU strike," and added, "The union should not participate in the KCTU strike plan but rather present field opinions to prepare reasonable institutional improvements."

Minister Cho said, "While guaranteeing the union's lawful exercise of rights, if the strike goes beyond legitimate dispute actions and causes significant harm to the lives and health of the public, we will respond firmly according to laws and principles," and expressed hope for a swift return to work.

Floor leader Yoon Jae-ok said, "This is the first general strike in 19 years, and due to concerns on the ground, we discussed related matters comprehensively." Attending the party-government meeting that day were Floor Leader Yoon, and lawmakers Lee Man-hee and Cho Myung-hee.