Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

On May 15, 1999, Lee Kap-yong, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference to declare a temporary suspension of the campaign to call on the government to begin dialogue and negotiations over the demands the KCTU has put forward. The decision to 'cool-off' the campaign was made on the basis of the successful rolling strikes by the hospital workers and metal workers and to see the various informal 'feelers' for negotiation the government has been putting forward.

The president Lee Kap-yong's statement was picked up and 'welcomed' by the media as an opportunity for a new development in the relationship between the government and the KCTU. The glimmer of a new development, however, was dashed abruptly by sudden escalation of government crackdown on the KCTU.

The government attack began with arrest of the leader of the hospital workers union, issuing of arrest orders against the entire leadership of a local hospital union, and sweeping arrest orders against all the elected leaders of the largest industrial federation.

Fear of Retaliation

The workers of the National Cancer Centre Hospital chapter of the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union began its strike on May 12 together with workers in other hospitals as a part of the KCTU-wide general campaign calling democratic restructuring, working hour reduction, comprehensive social security system, and industry-level collective bargaining.

The government responded on May 17 by issuing warrant of arrest against nine officers of the union branch at the hospital, including the chapter president. On May 15, the police arrested Lee Sang-choon, the president of the Korean Health and medical Workers Union - a national union of workers in the health and medical industry with members in 146 hospitals - and at the same time the president of the Korean Federation of Hospital Workers Unions, without a warrant. He was later, on May 17, formally charged and held in detention. On the same day, police issued warrant of arrest against Nah Soon-ja, the president of Seoul Regional Branch of the union. The allegations and the charges laid against the nine officers of the National Cancer Centre Hospital and Nah and the president of the union Lee are 'obstruction of business'.

The government action against the hospital workers union at the National Cancer Centre Hospital deviates abruptly from the pattern set in other hospitals.

The rolling strike organised by the Hospital Workers Union ended in all the major public and private hospitals, such as, the Veteran Hospital, the Seoul National University Hospital, Ewha Women's University Hospital, and Kyunghee University Hospital, with the successful conclusion of collective agreement which prevented the unilateral layoff-centred restructuring.

The sudden police intervention at the National Cancer Centre Hospital has destroyed all the hopes of a negotiated settlement like in other hospitals causing it to develop into a major war of attrition. At the same time, the abrupt development raises fear that the union leaders at the hospitals where strikes have ended with successful conclusion of the negotiations may become target of the government 'retaliation'. The fear stems from the fact that the strikes at the hospitals are all - by the current labour law in Korea - illegal and strictly banned. The current Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act categories hospitals as an essential public service where industrial disputes are subject to 'compulsory arbitration'. Therefore, any industrial action

by workers in hospitals are illegal. The charge of illegal strike can be brought down on the union leaders at the hospitals where strikes have ended with successful conclusion of negotiation.

The recent arrest and police action brings the dormant battle over the current trade union law which severely restrict the right of unions and workers in hospitals and other public service workplaces to the surface. The leaders of the union chapter at the National Cancer Centre Hospital served with warrant of arrest are Lee Kang-choon (chapter president), Lee Kyung-hee (chapter vice-president), Keum Young-seub (chapter secretary), Cho Eun-ja (chapter administrative director), Hwang Byung-

chul (chapter organising director), Im Myong-jik (chapter culture and recreation director), Je Young-hee (chapter education director), Hong Ki-yeul (chapter publication director) and Heo Mi-kyung.

Attack on Metal Workers Union Escalated

The sudden escalation of attack on the KCTU unions by the governmen reached a new height and absurdity when the Public Prosecutors Offic issued warrant of arrest against all of the elected leaders of the KCTU's largest affiliate, the Korean Metal Workers Federation (KMWF). On May 17, it became known that president Moon Seung-hyun, first vice-president Lee Hong-woo, general secretary Jeun Jae-hwan, and vice-presidents Baek Soon-hwan, Lee Seok-haeng, and Oh Jong Soae are wanted for arrest. The remaining vice-president Kim Hee-joon was already wanted for arrest even before his election for his involvement in last year's strike by the Mando Machinery Workers Union.The allegation for which the arrest warrants have issued is violation of the Law on Assembly and Demonstration. The government action against the KMWF leaders follows the formal arrest and detention of Han Seok-ho, the Director of Organising Department.The recent spate of government crackdown is, on the surface, in response to the mass rally organised by the KCTU on May 14 and 15 where 15,000 workers demonstrated in the major streets of Seoul. Peaceful workers rally turned into tense scuffle between unionists and the riot police when riot police charged at the workers trying to force the thousands of workers to just one lane of the road. In protest, rallying workers sat down and laid down on the street, calling for guarantee of the right of assembly and demonstration. As a result of the clash, some 48 unionists were dragged away by police, giving rise to even more tension.


List of Incarcerated Unionists Growing

If the metalworkers leaders wanted for arrest were all arrested, then the KMWF will be left with no elected leader as many of its member local unions are waging difficult campaign to prevent mass layoff. The new arrest orders have repopulated the KCTU safe camp at the Myongdong Cathedral with the leaders of the Seoul Subway Workers Union and the Korean Federation of Transport, Public and Social Services

Workers Unions with the main stayers since mid-April. KCTU is forced to hold all its major meetings at the exposed Cathedral ground in order to fill the quorum. The list of the KCTU leaders and members made 'immobile' by the government crackdown is becoming longer as the days go by:

66 leaders of the Seoul Subway Workers Union are subject to arrest orders

14 unionists at the Seoul Subway are already arrested and held in detention

five unionists at the Hyundai Precision Industry are wanted for arrest

nine leaders of the National Cancer Centre chapter and Nah Soon-ja of Seoul branch are facing arrest

Han Seok-ho, Organising Director of the KMWF is arrested

President Lee Sang-choon of the Korean Federation of Hospital Workers Unions (also vice-president of the KCTU) is arrested

KMWF elected leaders are wanted for arrest

President Nah Yang-joo of the Daewoo Shipbuilding Workers Union is under arrest.

The new additions join those who are already imprisoned since last year, including Dan Byung-ho, the former president of the KMWF and Kim Kwang- shik, the former president of the Hyundai Motors Workers Union. The top leaders of the KCTU itself may - if the current government campaign is to extend further - soon end up in jail, finally removing all the obstacle in the way of the government's and the chaebols' Reaganite or Thatcherite plan for "restructuring" and "retrenchment" of labour.

KCTU Pledges New Round of Campaign

The arrests and attacks on hospital workers union and the metal workers

union undermine the KCTU initiative to create a new climate dialogue and negotiation. On May 17, KCTU released a statement calling on the government to end its war against workers and the KCTU, release all the arrested, and begin negotiations. Lee declared that the KCTU will be forced to launch the third round of its general campaign if the government insists on the recalcitrant attitude.

KCTU will, at the same time, prepare a petition to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Committee on freedom of association in response to the repressive restriction of trade union rights inherent in 'compulsory arbitration' for disputes at public service workplace and the labour law system which makes industrial action by unions addressing the issues of government policy illegal. KCTU will challenge the Korean government in the international community for its continuing failure to live up to its promise to comply with international labour standards.