CINA

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Since weeks the (South) Korean Metal Workers' Federation (KMWF/금속노조), a major part of KCTU, is planning a "General Strike Against the Implementation of the ROK-US FTA" for this week.

But what is happen now, according to the latest articles/news.. sounds just like reports from a "lunatic asylum" (eeh.. sorry!!):
 

The metal workers' union will stage partial walkouts for five days from Monday to

protest the free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the United

States, despite opposition both from its own members and the government.
   But the strike plan is not likely to be carried out, as the majority of the unionists

are opposing the collective action, today's edition of Korea Times wrote.

*****

Labor Minister Lee Sang-soo hinted last Thursday that the government will use the police force to crackdown "illegal labor strikes against a Korea-U.S. FTA" scheduled for this week. 
   "Although (the government) tended to refrain from mobilizing law enforcement authorities in the past, this time, we will strictly deal with the strike from the beginning stage," Lee said at a press conference, according to Korea Herald (KH, 6.22)
   The ministers of labor, justice and commerce issued a joint statement urging the metal workers' union to scrap its plan to stage a strike in protest of the free trade agreement with the United States.
   Lee also said the walkout plans of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and its affiliate, Korean Metal Workers' Union, are clearly illegal, politically motivated and irrelevant to improving working conditions (KH).

*****

..The (KMWF) union chief .. said that despite public concern, the strike will cause no loss to the economy.
   “During the strike, there will be no disruption in vehicle production at about 230 of

our workplaces,” said Jung, adding that the negative effects of the strike have

been distorted..
   Jung Gap-deuk, president of the Metal Workers Union.. (in) a press conference..

said the strike will inevitably stop the ratification of the free trade agreement, which

he said will eventually worsen the living conditions of workers across the country.
   “The strike is an expression of our determination to continue to fight to defend

people’s lives and workers’ rights,” Jung said. “The FTA might be a chance for

some conglomerates to increase profits, but it would be a disaster for the majority

of workers and the public in general." (JoongAng Ilbo, 6.23)

At the same day the same newspaper published following bull shit:
"What nerve they have! Do they want to ruin everything?"

*****

And finally Yonhap reported following y'day:

Hyundai Motor union kills strike

The labor union at Hyundai Motor Co. on Sunday withdrew its plan to take part in an industry-wide strike against a proposed South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

   The 40,000-member union had originally planned to join a five-day strike called by its national umbrella labor group starting on Monday. Hyundai Motor's unionists had planned to walk out two hours a day during the period.

   The decision to call off the labor action was made at a meeting of union leaders at the automaker's main plant in Ulsan, a southeastern industrial city. The union leaders cited "unfavorable" public sentiment against their strike plan.

Related articles:

☞ Government hints at using police to prevent strikes (K. Herald, 6.22)

☞ Metal Workers: anti-FTA strike will go forward (JoongAng Ilbo, 6.23)

☞ FTA strike illegal, harmful

☞ Hyundai Motor Union Cancels Strike (K. Times, 6.25)

More about it (incl. my comment) likely later.. when I've got hopefully some translations..