8/2/2023 0 Comments Kctu general strikeIronically, even while the “FTA labor rights clause” re-negotiations with the US were underway, the South Korean government actively sought to prevent the metal workers from exercising the right of collective action by denouncing the strikes as “illegal.” This is based on the government’s somewhat political view of the strike and view that workers ought not strike over larger socio-economic issues relating to globalization even though the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) has explicitly acknowledged-in reference to Korea in the CFA June 2007 report-that larger socio-economic globalization issues are valid concerns for workers and the right of collective action should not be restricted solely on the basis that globalization issues are involved. Over 20,000 demonstrators voicing workers’ and peoples’ opposition to the Korea-US FTA Photo: Workers in raincoats fill the streets of Seoul against the FTA on 29 June 2007, with Particularly, on 29 June, the Korean and US trade negotiators were concluding a superficial and ineffective clause for labor rights to dress up the agreement, which heightened the concern but will not change our opposition to the FTA. With over 100 riot police buses blocking the way, the closing rally was held at Jongro-1-ga, sponsored by the Korean Alliance against the KOR-US FTA (KoA), a broad alliance of about 300 different groups from civil society and social movements, including the two national trade union centers. After the KCTU demonstration, peasants, culture groups, women’s groups, students, and other social movements and NGOs joined the 20,000 workers and all the demonstrators marched to the center of downtown. Braving pelting rains, KCTU members from other sectors joined the metal workers at Daehakro Street, where the KMWU had held a strike rally for strikers from Seoul and outlying regions. The KMWU strike was part of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) all-out struggle against the KOR-US FTA. Over 110,000 (out of 150,000) KMWU members stopped production lines all over the country, with striking workers joining regional rallies throughout the peninsula on both days. South Korean Government Issues Arrest Warrants for 27 Leaders Ħ7 Leaders under Investigation for “Obstruction of Business”įollowing three days of regional strikes on 25 June - 27 June, the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) called a national metal workers’ strike on 28 June 2007 and again on 29 June 2007 in opposition to the signing of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. Korean Metal Workers’ Union Strike to Oppose Signing of Free Trade Agreement Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) anti-FTA strikeīreaking through the Pressure of Government and Capital,
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