Appeal from Korean workers
By Eva Cheng
The management of the Japanese-owned Korean Sanbon Company in the Masan exporting processing zone has twice used goons to bash unionised — primarily women — workers. The attacks have injured nine, some seriously, and destroyed union equipment and documents.
The second attack occurred on June 28 — after the management had denied the previous incident of violence, which took place on April 26, though it fired six and forced 16 to resign after that.
The workers are holding once-a-week demonstrations with the support of the Korean Democratic Metal Union and Korea Women Workers Association United to publicise their case. They need international support to put pressure on the company around the following demands: a public apology; punishment of those who attacked the workers; payment of medical bills of injured workers; and negotiations with dismissed workers.
Letters can be sent to: Labour Minister, fax 822 503 9771; Yama Motokichi, general manager, Ita Bashi-Ku Shinmizu-cho (Sanbon's mother company in Japan), fax 81 3 3961 6646; Seo Kil-young, manager, the Korean Sanbon Co, phone 82 551 94 6161 3, fax 82 551 92 2836; and President Kim Young-sam, fax 822 770 0253. Please fax solidarity message to KWWAU at 822 837 1407.
The union at Sanbon has been subjected to harassment ever since it was formed in 1987, out of a struggle which was followed by the formation of 30 new militant trade unions. The Sanbon union's move to join the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a militant alliance which the government refuses to recognise, has led the management to threaten closing the plant.