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2412
2004-09-22 23:52:04
KoPA
Hunger Strike/Sit-in Demonstration to Protest South Korean Government¡¯s Proposed Legislation on Irregular Workers
KCTU NEWS ALERT – Sep. 22th

Hunger Strike/Sit-in Demonstration to Protest South Korean Government¡¯s Proposed Legislation on Irregular Workers

On September 16, 2004, the Ministry of Labor held a meeting at the Uri Party (the ruling party) headquarters to discuss the government¡¯s proposed legislation on irregular workers.  Immediately following the conference, at 2:30 pm, close to 100 union leaders and members of the National Preparatory Committee of Irregular Workers Unions conducted an emergency sit-in demonstration at Uri Party¡¯s executive offices located at the second floor of the building.  The National Preparatory Committee is comprised of unions affiliated with both the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and other labor rights groups representing irregular (non-permanent, temporary, contract, subcontract, self-employed, etc.) workers.

The group was protesting the details of the proposed labor bills, which the unions believe would worsen the situation of irregular workers in terms by increasing the number of irregular workers and furthering discrimination against irregular workers.  The group requested a meeting with Uri Party leaders.  The Uri Party agreed to meet with only three to five union representatives and if all union members left the premises.  The group agreed to the Uri Party¡¯s condition concerning union members but stated that the party leaders must meet with all thirteen union representatives.  After the union members left, Uri Party representatives rescinded their original agreement and refused to meet with union representatives.  Lee Byu Young, a former democracy leader and currently Chair of the Uri Party has now stated that he and other party leaders will only meet with the union representatives if they apologize for the impromptu sit-in demonstration and leave the party headquarters.  

The union representatives have refused this new stipulation.  On September 17, at 11:00 am, the group held a press conference, where they announced that they would be conducting a hunger strike until Uri Parity officials meet with them to address their concerns about the proposed legislation as well as discuss alternatives in resolving the irregular workers issue.  Currently fourteen union leaders representing irregular workers and labor rights groups are participating in the hunger strike.

Supporters of the hunger strikers held a rally in front of the Uri Party headquarters at 2:00 pm. Although the demonstration participants attempted to enter the building to meet with union leaders, they were blocked by over 200 riot police, who were tightly lined row after row.  A confrontation ensued between the police and the demonstrators.  In the end, the Uri Party agreed for five group representatives to enter the building to express support to the hunger strikers.

Despite the stubbornness of the Uri Party leaders in refusing to meet them, the union representatives are determined to continue with the hunger strike until their demands are met, as more than over 6 million irregular workers are awaiting concrete changes that would improve their lives.


Statement by the National Preparatory Committee of Irregular Workers Unions
September 18, 2004

Trade unionists who are facing labor repression from government and employers:

On September 16, 2004, we, union leaders of irregular workers¡¯ unions forcibly entered the executive offices located in the second floor of the Uri Party (ruling party) headquarters and conducted an impromptu sit-in demonstration in protest over the government¡¯s proposed legislation on irregular (non-permanent, contract, subcontract, temporary, short-term, etc.) workers.  On September 17, we decided to start a hunger strike.  

The Roh Moo Hyun administration and the Uri party has stated that the new proposed legislation will improve the lives of irregular workers and end discrimination against irregular workers.  However, in reality, the proposed legislation will turn all of the 14 million South Korean workforce into irregular workers.  Consequently, there will no longer be a regular (permanent) workforce.  Instead, a new class of ¡°slaves¡± will be established.  Because of this, we refuse to leave the Uri party headquarters on our own free will.  They will have to forcibly remove us.  

The Roh administration, employers, and the mass media have joined in full force to basically hide the truth about the contents and impact of the new labor bills on South Korean workers.  The public is lead to believe that the proposed legislation will improve the lives of irregular workers and it will only affect irregular workers.  However, if one were to carefully scrutinize the contents of the bill, it is quite clear that the main objective of the bill is to irregularize the workforce and put an end to the alliance between regular and irregular workers.  Since irregular workers already face heavy discrimination and are paid less with out any benefits in comparison to regular workers, the proposed legislation cannot make their lives any worse than it is.  The real target of the bill is the permanent workforce.  

There are many permanent workers who believe that their union is strong enough that they will not be impacted by this bill.  However, let us not forget what happened in 1998 when the government introduced a series of labor laws that no longer guaranteed job security for workers.  At that time, we could not overcome the rigid mindset of ¡°our company,¡± ¡°our region,¡± and ¡°our city¡± and unite to stop anti-worker, anti-labor reforms of 1998.  We must never forget what happened in 1998 and learn from our past mistakes

Although there may be some regular workers who may initially not be affected by the proposed legislation and they will continue to keep their permanent work status, one should not underestimate the Roh administration.  It is the intention of the Roh Moo Hyun government to emplace an income cap forcing workers into early retirement resulting in companies to hire irregular workers to replace the outgoing regular workforce.  Through this process, the strength and the power of unions representing regular workers will be undoubtedly weaken.  
Currently only 26 types of industries can hire temporary, contract workers but the new proposal will allow all industries to hire irregular workers.  In addition, the year of contractual service will increase from two to three years.  According to the proposed labor bills, after three years, employers must make contract workers permanent.  Yet, why would employers hire permanent workers, when they will now be able to hire cheaper contract labor more easily due to the new proposed bills.  The new workforce entering the labor marked will now consist of irregular workers.  

The government¡¯s proposals will increase the number of irregular workers, and thus, the irregular workforce will now be the ¡°regular¡± workforce.  Currently irregular workers face immense discrimination in terms of wages, working conditions, and benefits but the proposed bills will now ¡°legalize¡± discrimination against irregular workers.  Additionally, the South Korean government along with the Uri party is attempting to prohibit a possible alliance and solidarity between regular and irregular workers through the proposed labor bills.  

To regular workers supporting irregular workers and working towards ending discrimination against irregular workers;

If we are unable to force the Roh administration from rescinding the proposed legislation, then we will be leaving a dark stain in the history of the South Korean labor movement.  Furthermore, if the proposed bills become a reality, then the new workforce, which basically will be irregular workers, will lose their belief in the power of the labor movement.  In the end, this will lead to an end in worker unit and could in fact destroy the labor movement.  We cannot let this happen.  

We have announced our intention to enter a hunger strike.  Why have we chosen to take this drastic resort?  We are protesting the proposed bills, which we believe will further worsen the working conditions of irregular workers.  We also want to shed light to the government¡¯s real objective in proposing this legislation---irregularizing the regular workforce.  In other words, it is the intention of the Roh Moo Hyun government and the Uri party to make regular workers irregular workers rather than making irregular workers regular workers, as Roh Moo Hyun promised during his Presidential campaign.  To stop the government¡¯s plan, we are conducting the hunger strike.

Activist fighting globalization and ending discrimination of irregular workers;

The proposed labor bills is far worse than the 1998 labor bills, where thousands of workers were forced into early retirement.  The new proposals are much worse and it will make workers¡¯ lives in South Korea far worse than it is now, as 14 million workers will now become irregular workers.  This is the government and the ruling party¡¯s plan.  

It is clear from the contents of the government¡¯s proposal, Roh¡¯s administration has not taken into account the demands and suggestions made by the labor movement in addressing the problems faced by irregular workers.  The government is basically not taking seriously and in a sense they are ¡°laughing¡± at us.  The government¡¯s actions are a result of the government¡¯s neo-liberal policies and continuous repression of trade union rights.

Only through workers solidarity and through a massive, unified General Strike, can we stop the government from introducing the proposed legislation.  Through a General Strike we will be able to show the power and unity of regular and irregular workers.  In the same way we were able to mobilize workers to participate in the 1998 General Strike, let us do the same thing to put an end to the government¡¯s plans.  Although there are many who may believe that our problems will not be resolved through a General Strike, it is our steadfast belief that only through a General Strike, can we resolve the current problems facing us.

Only if the labor movement is successful in mobilizing a unified, strong front to participate in the General Strike, then, can we expect the support of the young workers, women workers, democratic activist and the poor and homeless.  Only if workers unite and show solidarity, then, we will undoubtedly gain the strong support from other sectors in South Korean society.  

Prior to the sit in demonstration and hunger strike, we, members of the National Preparatory Committee of Irregular Workers Unions, had already planned to coordinate a National Day of Actions on highlighting irregular workers on October 10, 2004.  This will proceed as planned.  Should the proposed legislation be introduced in the National Assembly, then, we vow to call for a one-day General Strike.

We understand that we have chosen a treacherous and difficult road and as we proceed on this road, we recognize that we could be imprisoned, be fired, or possibly be physically injured.  Nevertheless, we will continue to take this road until the very end.  Let us all work together in unity and participate in the General Strike.  We must not remain idle and just watch the proposed legislation be introduced and then eventually passed in the National Assembly.  We cannot and should not do this.  It is not a losing battle.  The power and the strength for us to improve the lives of 14 million South Korean workers lay in our hands.  Through solidarity between regular and irregular workers, we will able to win this battle.

Towards a national democratic general strike!
Regular workers and irregular worker¡¯s solidarity strike!
Stop proposed labor reforms that will worsen irregular worker¡¯s lives!
Propose labor laws that will protect worker rights!
  




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