Below is an abridged call for solidarity from the Korean Federation of Trade Unions against July 24 arrest warrants issued for the KCTU leadership by the government of President Lee Myung-bak, as part of a crackdown on the mass movement against the decision to allow US beef imports. The full statement can be read at http://asia-pacific-action.org.
On August 6, police used water cannon and arrested 167 people to break up protests overnight against a visit by US President George Bush, according to an AFP report that day. The 10,000-strong, according to organisers, peaceful candle-lit vigil was protesting the US beef import decision.
We are writing to you to call for solidarity to protest the South Korean Lee Myung-bak government repression against the KCTU and fundamental trade union rights.
Amid mass candlelight protests calling for renegotiations of the April 18th protocol on importation of US beef, the KCTU decided to go into general strike on July 2 calling for protection of people's right to health and to reflect food safety concerns.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) played a leading role in the general strike. The prosecutor and the labour ministry declared the strike illegal, and on June 30, the 66 senior prosecutors called an urgent meeting at which it called the general strike a "political strike" and announced they would pursue investigations.
The prosecutor filed for arrest warrants against and has pursued the arrest of the leadership of the KCTU, KMWU and Hyundai Motor Branch on the grounds of "obstruction of business". Search warrants for the houses of all those with arrest warrants were also issued.
Since the arrest warrants for the KCTU leaders were issued on July 24 until present, hundreds of police have surrounded the KCTU headquarters building, stopping and searching all of those who enter the building. On July 27, the police arrested the first vice-president Jin Young-ok. She is now detained in the Youngdeungpo Police Station.
The government's violent repression of the candlelight protest has been severe enough to attract the criticism of Amnesty International.
The government agencies' argument that the general strike was illegal is based on the logic that the declared aims of the general strike, that is the renegotiation of April 18 protocol on US beef importation and achievement of national industry-level collective bargaining, were not related to wages or working conditions, and deficiency of procedural requirements.
However, the KCTU would like to make it clear that not only is there no logical or legal basis for calling the strike illegal, this stipulation is in fact an extension of the government's anti-labour policies.
Legality
When the KCTU called for a general strike on July 2, renegotiation of the April 18 protocol on US beef imports to reflect food safety concerns was declared as one of priorities of strike aims. The labour ministry and prosecutor explained that this was the main reason that it was illegal. This is a repetition of the government's very narrow interpretation that the only legal aims of strikes must be related to wages and working conditions.
According to the 1996 International Labour Organisation Committee on Freedom of Association Digest, it clearly stipulates that "Organizations responsible for defending workers' socio-economic and occupational interests should be able to use strike action to support their position in the search for solutions to problems posed by major social and economic policy trends which have a direct impact on their members and on workers in general".
It should be noted that the international trade union movement works on trade issues on a permanent basis and has a strong policy on health and safety, including food safety. Therefore, there is good reason for the KCTU to be involved in the trade agreements including April 18 protocol on US beef importation.
Solidarity
We believe that "fundamental objective of the trade union movement should be to ensure the development of the social and economic well-being of all workers".
The KCTU general strike on July 2 was aimed at the renegotiation of April 18 protocol on US beef imports, stopping privatisation of public services, opposition to the plan of building Korea Grand Canal, and taking appropriate measures to solve soaring consumer prices. We believe that these issues are clearly related to social and economic well-being of workers and their families so as to be the aims of industrial actions.
We call for your solidarity to protest the repression against fundamental trade union rights.
The KCTU demands that the government immediately stop repression against the KCTU and its affiliates; release the detainees and call off arrest warrants without delay; respect fundamental trade union rights including right to strike; fully implement numerous recommendations from ILO Committee on Freedom of Association; fully respect freedom of assembly and people's right to dissent.
We are calling for protest letters to be sent to Lee Myung-bak, president@cwd.go.kr or foreign@president.go.kr. Copies should be sent to the Police commissioner Eo Cheong-soo at cnpa100@police.go.kr.
Please be sure to send a copy to KCTU at inter@kctu.org.
We are also calling for organising every possible form of protest in solidarity with the KCTU and candle light movements in your local areas, such as protesting or having a press conference in front of the Korean embassy or consulate office. If so, please be sure to send information and photos to the KCTU at nter@kctu.org.