Transport Workers Solidarity Committee

Korean KCTU Labor group picks moderate leader who is train driver in Busan
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/01/30/201001300030.asp

Labor group picks moderate leader

The nation's second-largest umbrella labor union picked a moderate leader in a meeting of delegates on Thursday.

Kim Young-hoon, 42, former head of the Korea Railway Workers' Union, was elected to lead the hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which represents about 650,000 members nationwide. His tenure runs through 2013.

"I'll make efforts to unify the organization and to reform its old way of operation. I'll work to make a strong and winning KCTU," Kim said after the announcement of voting results.

Within the union, Kim is considered young and free from the influence of several rival factions. And that aspect appealed to many members who prefer to participate in social issues through conversation, not violent struggle.

It remains to be seen, however, if he will take a moderate line in labor movements, observers say.

Last year, labor and management disputes were caused over a revision to labor union law. Amid expectations of an economic recovery, experts say the disputes could be accelerated this year.

Korean KORAIL’s plans to terminate KRWU’s collective bargaining agreement revealed

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/393942.html

KORAIL’s plans to terminate KRWU’s collective bargaining agreement revealed
LDP Lawmaker Lee Jeong-hee shares documents that support her allegation that the termination was planned two months prior to the KORAIL strike

» Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) hold a demonstration to protest the labor policies of the Lee Myung-bak administration in front of the Industrial Bank branch located in Yeouido, Dec. 16.
An internal KORAIL document has been released that shows the termination of Korean Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU) collective bargaining agreement had been planned in advance in early October, some two months prior to the KORAIL strike.

On Wednesday,　Democratic Labor Party Lawmaker Lee Jeong-hee disclosed meeting materials composed at KORAIL’s personnel and labor office in early October. The document shows that KORAIL formulated a strategy to pressure the union with termination of its collective bargaining agreement. The materials also indicate that if KRWU decided to not accept KORAIL’s proposed changes to the collective bargaining agreement and took action after the conclusion of mediation efforts by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), the company had plans to inform the union it was terminating the collective bargaining agreement. This means that as long as the termination was an established fact unless the union yielded.

Lee administration orders raid on public sector labor unions’ offices : Growing War Against Labor In Korea

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/390995.html

Lee administration orders raid on public sector labor unions’ offices
Observers say tensions are expected to escalate if the administration continues its hardline interference in the KRWU strike

» Yeongdeungpo police investigators carry a computer hard drive and other various items after conducting a search and seizure of the United Government Employees’ Union office located in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo neighborhood at dawn, Dec. 1.
Police conducted surprising searches and seizure raids on the offices of the striking Korea Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU) and Korean Government Employees’ Union (KGEU) on Tuesday. On the same day, the Korea Labor Institute (KLI) became the first public institution to implement a lockout. In response, critics are charging that the Lee administration is being excessive in suppressing labor movements made among government workers and in the public sector for reasons such as advancing public corporations.

At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Seoul’s Yongsan Police Station dispatched some 30 officers to two Yongsan area offices of the KRWU, which is currently on its sixth day of a strike. Computer hard disks and documents were among the materials confiscated from the offices. Police also formed a special division for apprehending the leaders behind the strike and set out to locate 15 executive members of the KRWU for whom arrest warrants have been issued, among them Kim Ki-tae, head of KRWU. Paek Nam-hee, director of the KRWU’s public relations bureau, said, “When the government responds to labor-management issues by mobilizing the authorities and interfering through searches and seizures, it only worsens labor-management issues.”

Korean Rail strike is declared illegal-Gov Raids Union, Arrests Leaders & Brings In Scabs

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/12/02/200912020039.asp

Rail strike is declared illegal

The government yesterday declared a prolonged strike by unionized railway workers illegal, pledging to punish all participants with "zero tolerance."

"We are strongly asking (striking workers) to end their illegal walkout and come back to their workplaces," said a statement issued jointly by related Cabinet ministers.

Seven ministers including Strategy Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun, Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee and Land and Transport Minister Chung Jong-hwan held an emergency meeting early in the morning and discussed how to deal with the strike, which was launched by the Korean Railway Workers' Union on Thursday.

In a separate move to pressure the Korean Railway Workers' Union, the prosecution secured a warrant to arrest 15 of its leaders, including chairman Kim Ki-tae, for charges of interfering with the company's business. Their office in Yongsan, central Seoul, was raided early yesterday.

"The strike is an irresponsible action that disrupts the economic turnaround and causes major financial losses. It is aimed not to demand the improvement of their working conditions but to oppose the government's labor policy, which is not acceptable according to the related labor law," Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun said.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/390570.html

Lee administration takes heavy-handed response to Korean Railway Workers’ Union strike
Meanwhile, police open KORAIL Union leaders investigation as union members continue to demand restoration of their collective bargaining rights

» The freight trains stop at Euiwang container base in Euiwang City in Gyeonggi Province Nov. 29, the fourth day of the Korean Railway Workers’ Union strike.
The police opened an investigation into the leaders of the Korean Railway Workers’ Union on Sunday, the fourth day of the strike that was launched in response to the unilateral announcement by the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) regarding the termination of the collective bargaining agreement.

Observers say the Lee administration’s emphasis on a firm response to the Korean Railway Workers’ Union’s strike is only escalating matters.

An official of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said on the same day, “The police have opened an investigation into 182 union members, including the union’s leaders, in response to charges filed against them by the Korea Railroad Corporation.” The official added, “The police will conduct an investigation in as timely a manner as possible in spite of the fact that the union members have not yet responded to a summons.”

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/11/27/200911270041.asp

Korean Railway workers go on strike Against Government Union Busting Tactic To Destroy Union

RAILWAY STRIKE-Cargo trains remain idle at a station in Euiwang, Gyeonggi Province, yesterday as unionized railway workers went on an indefinite strike. [Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald]

Unionized railway workers went on an indefinite strike yesterday after they failed to narrow differences with management over issues involving salaries, working conditions and fired employees.

Due to the strike, which the Korea Railway Workers' Union began at 4 a.m., the operation of cargo trains was virtually halted and subway commuters in Seoul were inconvenienced during morning rush hours.

The operation rate of commuter trains in the Seoul metropolitan area was at around 91 percent in the morning, but increased almost to a normal level in the afternoon, officials at the Korea Railroad Corporation said.

The operation rate of cargo trains was at less than 10 percent in the morning. Passenger trains such as the KTX, Saemaeul and Mugunghwa operated as normal.

Of the total 24,000 union members, 5,400 workers, excluding essential staff for railway maintenance, were expected to join the strike, but over 700 refused and came to work, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.

Korea Railway Workers' Union today starts an indefinite strike against union busting action canceling union agreement

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/11/26/200911260044.asp

Railway workers start indefinite strike

The Korea Railway Workers' Union today starts an indefinite strike in protest of the Korea Railroad Corporation's cancellation of the collective agreement with the KRWU.

"When the negotiations were still underway, KORAIL annulled the agreement unilaterally. This behavior is considered a total rejection of the trade union, resulting in our strike," said Kim Ki-tae, head of the KRWU, at a press conference yesterday.

The union and management had held talks on the labor collective agreement until Tuesday. However, they could not narrow their differences over the reinstatement of fired workers and the company ended negotiations unilaterally.

"We already agreed to discuss the issue of fired workers last December. And the company demanded the revision of 120 clauses within the 170-clause agreement. That is the main reason for the current catastrophe," Kim added.

"We apologize to citizens for causing concerns. In order to minimize people's inconveniences, we will do our essential jobs in accordance with the trade union law even during the walkout," said Kim, who represents 25,000 union members.

Tugboat Unionists Strike in Ulsan, Busan

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/08/117_49780.html

08-07-2009 18:06
Tugboat Unionists Strike in Ulsan, Busan
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Unionized workers on tugboats at Ulsan and Busan ports launched strikes Friday, disrupting transportation services.

The walkout, if continued over a prolonged period, is expected to paralyze harbor logistics.

The tugboat union at Ulsan Port, the nation's largest export port for cars, went on a strike after failing to reach an agreement with management about wage hikes and working conditions. Crews on 26 of the port's 29 tugboats belong to the union.

About 30 mid- and large-sized container boats and oil tankers could not dock or depart the port Friday. Last year, 170 million tons of products and 1.1 million cars were exported through Ulsan.

The Ulsan Regional Maritime Affairs and Port Office requested port authorities in Pohang, Yeosu, Masan and Pyeongtaek to each send one boat to Ulsan.

Tugboats unionists at Busan's port, Korea's largest and the world's fifth largest container port, also started a walkout.

Half of the port's 32 tugboat crews belong to the union. The port authorities say the strike will not disrupt transportation there immediately, but may do so if the walkout lasts for a long time and non-unionists take part in the collective action.

7/24 SF Solidarity Picket To Defend Korean Auto Workers,KTU Public Teachers & KNUM Media Workers

Solidarity Picket At Korean Consulate

To Defend Ssangyong Auto Workers, KTU Public Teachers & KNUM Media Workers

Tuesday July 28, 2009 4:00 PM

Korean Consulate San Francisco

3500 Clay/Laurel St. San Francisco

The Korean labor movement is under a brutal attack. Hundreds of police and hired thugs are attacking the Ssangyong Motor sit-in strike by auto workers. These workers are demanding negotiations over their layoffs. The company has refused to negotiate and instead with the support of the state the management illegally hired thugs to beat up the workers using baseball bats, steel pipes and martial arts weapons(nunchaku). They came on July 21, 2009 to the plant to seriously injure the striking workers which they did. They beat up workers who had no possibility of resisting arrest or defending themselves.

This vicious attack on the Ssangyong Motor workers has been condemned by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions KCTU and they have called for a General Strike and also for solidarity actions at all Korean Embassies and Consulates around the world. The use of organized privatized thugs to attack workers must be protested throughout the world.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/355443.html

Excessive use of force by police during KCTU and KCTWU labor rally
Labor rally in Daejeon leads to mass arrest of delivery drivers and unionists

» Approximately 15 thousands members of the Korea Cargo Transport Workers’ Union participated in the rally to launch a general strike held in front of the Daejeon Government Complex, May 16.
Some 457 workers were arrested, and an estimated 150 workers and police injured during a clash between protesters and police at a labor rally convened in Daejeon on Saturday by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) and the Korea Cargo Transport Workers’ Union (KCTWU). The government reacted to KCTWU’s decision Saturday to launch a general strike by threatening a harsh response and banning future KCTWU and KCTU demonstrations. Observers are concerned about a precipitating clash between labor and the government.

The KCTU and KCTWU convened a rally attended by some 15,000 unionists at Nammun Square in front of the Daejeon Government Complex on Saturday afternoon, and demanded the return to work of delivery drivers fired from Korea Express and the labor rights of ‘specially-employed’ laborers. After the rally, participants conducted a march, during which police moved to suppress the demonstration with clubs and water cannons, leading to a heated clash with resisting, flag-waving demonstrators.