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The threat of state terror is following

by psycho-war in the media

JoongAng Ilbo's today's edition writes following:

Posco strike off, then it's back on again in 8th day
 
Workers said they needed to have a guarantee they wouldn't be sued

Striking workers told police yesterday they would voluntarily end their eight-day occupation of Posco's headquarters in Pohang, but then quickly retracted the decision.
About 9 p.m. last night, workers began putting back barricades and told police they would not leave the building.

 
A labor union leader inside the building told the JoongAng Ilbo late last night that the construction workers had promised to leave the building on one main condition: a guarantee that they would not be sued for their actions.

However, their employer, the Korean Specialty Contractors Association, then told them that the issue was not negotiable. That's when the approximately 1,000 workers in the building decided to stay.

It had been a tumultuous day. In the morning, the government vowed to use the necessary force to remove the laborers. They also vowed stern punishments for the people involved in the takeover, in North Gyeongsang province.

"Posco is not a negotiation partner of the labor union," Labor Minister Lee Sang-soo said yesterday morning. "It is hard to understand why the union is insisting on negotiating with Posco."

 
During the day, a split in the union appeared to worsen. Labor union leaders barred workers from leaving the building, fearing an exodus, according to police, quoting workers who were questioned after secretly making their way out.

A 53-year-old worker who climbed down an elevator cable yesterday morning while others were sleeping said those who wanted to leave the building had scuffled with union leaders. He said his initial attempt to leave the building with 18 other workers was stopped by others wielding wooden sticks, so he went out alone.

 
Another escapee said the union leaders had been trying to calm the agitated workers. "Many of them worried that they might lose their union membership if they got out after the situation was resolved, and eventually lose their jobs," he said.

 
About 7:30 p.m., some of the workers began removing the barricades from inside the building, after the leadership of the construction workers' labor union provided a written statement to the police that "We all will come down. Please show leniency to all the union members and let them return to their families."

The occupation and strike has cost Posco an estimated 80 billion won ($84 million) as of yesterday, said Ha Dae-ryong, a company spokesman.

The strike began in June, against the contractors association. The 2,500 unionized workers, who have been constructing 24 new production facilities for Posco, sought higher wages and a five-day work week.

On July 11, Posco notified police that the labor union was obstructing its business. Two days later, the angry workers marched to Posco's headquarters building and occupied it.
Posco turned off electricity and air conditioning in the building Tuesday and cut off water yesterday.

The police also released yesterday video footage showing strikers blocking riot policemen from entering the building Tuesday, with some using flame throwers made from liquefied petroleum gas containers, rubber hoses and steel pipes against riot police trying to enter the building. Eight riot policemen sustained burns during the failed attempt to enter the building, the police said. It was unclear if any of the strikers were injured during the confrontation.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200607/20/200607202240367509900090409041.html 

Chosun Ilbo is writing:

Fears of Bloodshed as Gov’t Vows to Break Up POSCO Strike

..

The striking construction workers.. vowed to fight to the end. The Pohang branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions told reporters it had “no choice but to fight to the death” if Cheong Wa Dae is intent on breaking up the strike by force. That has led to fears of bloodshed when police move in to quell the strike, which they are expected to do on Friday or Saturday.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200607/200607200014.html