Korean workers prepare to strike

By James Vassilopoulos

SYDNEY -- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is launching another general strike, according to Jongsoae Oh, a leading member of the KCTU.

Oh told a public meeting held on February 25 that sit-down strikes have begun in preparation for a general strike. About 40 people attended the meeting, organised by unions including the Public Transport Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

According to Oh, 400,000 workers have so far participated in the strikes. More than 3 million KCTU broadsheets were distributed to inform workers and the community.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Environment and Labour has concluded public hearings on the new labour laws which sparked the strikes. The committee has set up a drafting committee to work on changes to the law.

The KCTU's 10 non-negotiable demands include:

• teachers and public servants to be allowed to form their own unions;

• scab labour not to be allowed;

• no mass lay-offs;

• no changes to current working hours.

The ACTU has sent a delegation to the Korean embassy in Canberra to lobby the Korean government to legalise the KCTU and allow freedom of association for workers.

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