South Korean workers in action

By Eva Cheng

On May 6, police in Kumi, in the southern province of Kyongsang, arrested 45 union activists of the Korea Textile Company following a violent clash two days earlier between 800 workers and riot police.

The workers were reportedly trying to get into the factory, where a partial strike has been held since April 11 in protest against the management's intimidation and punishment of eight union leaders.

Only two weeks ago, President Kim Young-sam ordered the formation of a high-profile advisory committee on reform of labour relations. It includes representatives from both workers and bosses and is to propose new laws and ways to ease industrial relations.

In response, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korea Trade Unions announced on May Day a series of demands aimed at easing South Korea's repressive labour laws. They include removal of existing legislation which bans trade unions from political activities, third parties from labour disputes and the formation of new trade unions if their objectives coincide with those of existing ones.

May Day rallies were held in at least 37 regions in South Korea, mobilising more than 100,000. In Seoul, FKTU's rally attracted 50,000 and KCTU's 20,000.

From GLW issue 232