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Today's ('left'-liberal) Hankyoreh published the following (funny??) piece:

"Labor solidarity"
 

Heads of South Korea’s two main umbrella unions, Kim Young-hoon of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), left, and Lee Yong-deuk of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) shake hands and smile after issuing a joint statement at the Press Center in Seoul, April 25. They called on the Lee Myung-bak administration to change its corporate-oriented labor policy and the new “oppressive” Trade Union Act that went into effect in July last year. They also vowed to stage an all-out fight against the ruling party, including a campaign to vote against the ruling Grand National Party candidates in the by-elections on Wednesday if their demands are not met.

This marks the first time the two umbrella unions, representing South Korea’s labor bloc, cooperated on political issues to publicly denounce the administration together, although they have kept pace with each other on some labor policy issues. The joint statement well reflects their sense of crisis after the controversial revision of Trade Union Act by Lee administration. The law calls for the implementation of the multiple union system and ban on wage payments to full-time unionists.

“The number of full-time unionists in workplaces with less than 300 workers decreased by 25 percent after the revision,” FKTU President Lee said. “The unions in the small and medium size companies have been neutralized because of full-time unionist’s reduction.”

80 percent of the unions under the FKTU are those in the small and medium size companies.

The Lee administration has communicated and compromised only with the FKTU on major labor issues, while excluding the KCTU, perceived as more aggressive. However, the FKTU changed its line as labor circumstances have rapidly deteriorated.


PS: Only three years ago KFTU supported MB's election campaign!!!(^^)
 

Campaign appearance, Dec. 2007: Lee Myung-bak(aka '2MB') and Lee Yong-deuk(KFTU)

Related article:
☞ Umbrella unions join forces (Korea Herald, 4.25)