24개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
Reuters reported y'day the following:
S.Korea's Lee vows to get tough on strikes
Conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak vowed on Monday to crack down on strikes that cut across industries, as a second stoppage in a week interrupted business, this time at an international bank.
Last week, the government sent in 2,500 riot police to break up a strike at an auto parts maker that had threatened to disrupt production at Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors , whose combined sales are fifth in global car sales.
In a show of force, riot police decked out in body armour and equipped with shields, outnumbered the protesters by about five-to-one.
"The public is never going to forgive any attempt to undermine an entire industry through a strike at one work place," Lee said in a national radio address on Monday, noting the striking factory workers were relatively well paid taking home on average 70 million won ($65,000) a year.
On Monday, union workers at Standard Chartered First Bank walked off the job opposing a management plan to change their terms of employment to annual salary contracts.
The stoppages come amid rising public discontent over inflation, a growing rich-poor divide and welfare issues, while the country's rising household debt has worried economists.
The crackdown was the latest in Lee's tough response to action by unions and is aimed as much at curbing their powerful political influence, experts say.
Unionised labour is seen as an obstacle for more investment both by domestic manufacturers and by overseas investors who see them as responsible for a rigid and volatile labour market.
"What we need is a mutually coexisting economy where cooperation between the labour and management raises productivity which leads to investment and more jobs," said Lee, a one-time boss of one of the country's big construction firms.
Until recent years, South Korea was notorious for violent protests and union-led stoppages, but Lee's no-nonsense approach has largely stopped such action.
Some economists have expressed concern that Lee's tough stance may be excessively anti-union, especially in light of his pledge to pursue growth that benefits all, not just the rich.
"He's had some close aides involved in scandals and is going into the end of his term, and he does like to take things head on, but he could have taken on a more measured approach," said Kwon Young-joon of Kyunghee University in Seoul.
Lee's popularity has nose-dived in recent months and last week's industrial action raised worry about protests this summer, as youth unemployment remains high and the government comes under pressure to reduce university fees.
The ruling Grand National Party and the opposition Democrats are running neck-and-neck in opinion polls ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/30/korea-labour-idUSL3E7GU09U20110530
Yesterday's (bourgeois) Korea Times reported the following:
Conflict deepens in Insa-dong
Street vendors vow to resist ward office's relocation plan
As usual, Insa-dong in central Seoul is crowded with foreign tourists busy taking pictures, looking around the shops and buying souvenirs or food on Sunday afternoon.
The peaceful scene makes it hard to imagine what took place in this tourist area over the last couple of weeks ― brutal clashes between street vendors and demolition workers hired by the Jongno District Office.
Just one week ago(5.24) thugs ("demolition workers"), hired by the Jongno-gu office...
...attacked the Insa-dong street vendors
The violent physical clashes are expected to be repeated as workers hired by the ward office will use force to push the plan to relocate the recalcitrant stall owners to two designated spots so tourists can more freely walk along the main street of Insa-dong.
The crackdown is also in line with a move to make the street car-free on weekdays as well as weekends.
Vendors a part of culture
However, street vendors are resisting the relocation plan, using their bodies to block demolition workers from taking their stalls.
Some of the stalls were broken into pieces with their owners defiantly opposing the crackdown. One street vendor passed out during the clash and was taken to a nearby hospital.
The clash obviously shocked citizens and travelers witnessing the violence in one of the most popular attractions for foreign tourists.
There have been more than 30 minor and major clashes there this year.
In the beginning of April large forces of "demolition workers"...
...threatened the Insa-dong street vendors with massive violence!!
Stallholders claim their sales will suffer drastically as the new sites are away from central Insadong and obviously less traversed by tourists.
“They are threatening our survival,” said Kim Geun-ki, a senior member of Jongno Street Vendor’s Union. “They’re moving us to places where few people visit, and it is obvious that we won’t make a living there.”
Kim, who has sold “yeot” (Korean taffy) from a stall for 15 years, said 730 street vendors from Jongno 1-ga to 6-ga streets were all moved to eight locations in 2009 and are suffering from financial difficulties.
“At that time, Seoul City and Jongno Office promised to support us once we moved to the designated locations. But they haven’t received any support, and behind the main streets, the business of most street vendors was destroyed. The same thing will happen to street vendors here, too,” he said.
Street vendors will pay necessary taxes, if the ward office legalizes their business in the street, which is the best solution, he said.
Regarding the street vendors, many foreign visitors said street stalls are part of the Insadong culture, which makes the atmosphere more interesting and appealing.
“It’s fun to see all these different street vendors here. I don’t have any problem with them. They don’t harass me or anything.” Chris Hotsworth from the U.S. said, who visited the street with his family. “I think it’s part of Insadong culture.”
Citizens’ right to walk
But the ward office is firm on its plan, claiming pedestrians’ right to have a pleasant walk on less congested streets should be the first priority.
“Such stalls are all illegal in principle. Visit here during weekend, you can’t walk easily due to many street vendors blocking the way,” said Kim Oh-hyeon, an official from the office. “We initially planned to move all 78 stalls here to the new sites, but now decided to move only 24 stalls, considering the condition and request of the stallholders. I think they also need to make a compromise.”
Relocating street vendors is also important in order to keep shops from displaying their goods outside. “Without the relocation of street vendors, we can’t regulate shops when they illegally occupy the pedestrian area, either,” he said.
Regarding the physical clash, which give visitors a bad impression of Korea, Kim said it is an inevitable part of the enforcement of law.
“We’re trying to minimize physical clashes, but some of the street vendors are the cause as many people here show sympathy to the stallholders, but we will act the boundary of the law,” he said.
The ward office is handing out leaflets to visitors to explain the necessity of the relocation of the street vendors, in four different languages.
Last Thursday, both sides called for a truce after the brutal clash ahead of the upcoming meeting between representatives of street vendors and the head of the ward office.
The peace may be short-lived as both parties are unlikely to narrow their differences on the relocation plan. Rather the conflict may escalate as the deadline of the relocation is set for June 15.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/profile.php?id=100001418267150
FIGHT gentrification!
STOP the social cleansing!!
In the S. Korean capital Seoul (almost totally ruled/controlled by the "reconstruction" mafia!!) there are still - surprisingly - a few beautiful areas. Here just some impressions from Jongno-gu(incl. Hyehwa-dong), Seongbuk-gu and Dongdaemun-gu:
Here a few images to provide evidence of Tuesday's brutal crackdown on the striking Yoosung workers in Asan, S. Korea:
Related reports you can read here on LabourStart (Korea section)!
MTU published today the following message:
Greetings everyone!
We are happy to inform you about the recent success of MTU's 'Solidarity Night' last May 14 at the Kyunghyang Shinmun Building. The event was attended by approximately more than 300 friends and comrades. They have come from various sectors of the society. The migrants from different communities like Filipino, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc; the union groups, social movement groups, human rights groups, churches, students, expats and supporters.
The event was a success in part because of our close cooperation specially with the 'Rainbow School' student-teachers, KCTU Seoul Regional Council representatives Joh Jeong-mi, KCTU Legal Counseling Center from KCTU Seoul Regional Council, MTU staff, leaders and member and our guest volunteer Christian(...)dongji.
We also thank our Hosts, Kim Ho-jeong and Luna Park, our translator from PSSP Wol-san Liem and our performers Gandiv Subedi, Shanti Adhikari, 'Rainbow School' dancers and our very good friend from 'Stop Crackdown Band', Soe Moe Thu.
Thank you all for your support and we hope that you liked our surprise gift awarding, the program and performances, the food and most especially, the true warmth of Solidarity and friendship!
We hope to be together with you again in good times and in struggle. Thank you so much!
http://migrant.nodong.net/?document_srl=157119
Photo impressions from the event you can see here!
Today - once again - the S. Korean ruling class called their henchmen to crush a justified strike/workers protest!
Police disperse striking unionists in a raid at Yoosung Enterprise Co., an auto parts supplier
for domestic car makers, in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, on May 24. Operations
of the factories of local car makers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp.,
were halted due to their subcontractor's strike. Yoosung produces piston rings, cylinder
liners and other key components needed to manufacture car engines. (Yonhap)
Here a short summarized 'chronology':
At 4(KST) in the afternoon: striking workers awaiting the (already announced)
attack by the riot cops...
And only a few minutes later it became the reality...
...with excessive force (by "thousands of riot cops", according to Yonhap)!!
At 6 p.m. 533 (according to Minjung-ui Sori) striking workers were arrested!
Finally today's (bourgeois) Korea Times reported the following:
Police disperse striking Yoosung workers
Thousands of riot police raided a regional auto parts manufacturing plant, Tuesday, to put an end to a week-long “illegal” strike that disrupted the production of Hyundai Motor and other major automakers.
More than 2,500 police entered the factory of Yoosung Enterprise in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, at 4:00 p.m., where hundreds of unionized workers have been holed up over the past week, according to South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency.
Police met little resistance from the workers while dispersing them. About 500 unionists were apprehended.
“We had to use force to disperse the striking workers and hand control of the facility back to the management. The raid was unavoidable as last-minute talks between management and the employees on strike fell apart,” a police officer said.
Police will decide whether to detain the workers or not after looking into their involvement in the walkout.
Police obtained arrest warrants for two union leaders and a search warrant for union offices from the Daejeon District Court.
He said 31 companies of riot police and three police vehicles equipped with water cannons were deployed to the scene.
Police helicopters hovered above the site to monitor the movements of the striking workers.
More than 500 unionized workers began occupying the factory on May 18 after they failed to reach common ground with their management on working conditions and salaries. Following the walkout, the management of Yoosung Enterprise, which specializes in piston rings, cylinder liners and other key components of car engines, imposed a lockout on the plant.
On Monday, the company’s management and labor held unsuccessful talks to resolve the confrontation.
The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), affiliated with Yoosung labor union, released a statement condemning the police raid.
“Law enforcement authorities refused to follow law and order by sending riot police into the plant. This is tantamount to a barbaric act. We will fight along with unionized workers of Yoosung Enterprise to the end until we achieve our goals,” the KCTU said.
It said it will launch a nationwide campaign to force President Lee Myung-bak to step down.
Despite the strike coming to an end on Tuesday, it will likely take some time for the plant to resume operations, meaning that automakers will have to grapple with output disruption for the time being.
According to the auto industry, the ongoing strike has forced automakers to suspend production of several vehicles due to a shortage of engine components.
Yoosung supplies key engine components to all five automakers operating here. In particular, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, the nation’s two largest automakers, depend heavily on its supply as they receive 70 percent of engine-related components from the firm.
Hyundai and Kia said if the walkout lasts through the end of May, they will be forced to cut output by as much as 50,000 cars. The other three carmakers — GM Korea, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong Motor — will see their production drop by a combined 10,000.
Hyundai has already been forced to shut down its assembly line for the Tucson ix sports utility vehicle, while Kia had to halt production of its Carnival passenger minivan.
According to the Korea Employers Federation, the labor strike has already cost automakers over 150 billion won in lost output as of Tuesday. From May 26, they will likely incur over 100 billion won in losses on a daily basis.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/117_87577.html
This event will promote the idea of the planned "unity"/"unification" of the so-called "progressive" forces in S. Korea...
A comrade told me yesterday the following, explaing the background of the event: "Well, there are tons of different positions, suggestions and ideas in the wake of the general elections and presidential election next year as to what the progressive movement should do during that 'political period. This 'Progressive Harmony group' demands the unity of the Democratic Labor Party, New Progressive Party and the Socialist Party first and then form an alliance with the bourgeois opposition 'Democratic' Party...
And this May 24 meeting is the first gathering of the harmony group for general mass."
PS: Duriban band "Supsuphaesur Grunge" will play a gig at the meeting, to promote the struggle of the Duriban Sit-in Collective
A visit in MTU's office (Seoul, Seodaemun-gu):
The location of MTU's office (inside KCTU Seoul Regional Council building):
The (bourgeois) Korea Times will publish in its tomorrow's printed edition the following "in-depth analysis" about the reasons why Kim Jeong-eun is traveling to
China:
China's leadership training for Jung-un
NK heir's trip focuses on smooth power transfer, economic aid
North Korean heir Kim Jong-un’s China trip, which began early Friday morning, has two target audiences, according to analysts.
It sent the unequivocal message to international observers that Kim Jong-un, the youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, will be the Stalinist state’s next leader.
For the domestic viewers, it will be regarded as a leadership training program to help the younger Kim gain credentials as a leader.
This interpretation was supported by the report that Jong-un might tour the historic sites located in northern China where Korean independence fighters teamed up with their
Chinese counterparts to fight against Japan, the colonial master during the 1930s.
Baek Seung-joo, chief of the Center for Security and Strategy of the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul, said the dynastical succession from father to son in the
North appeared to be on the right track.
“Against this backdrop, Jong-un’s China trip is taking place. This, therefore, could mean that the North wants the world to recognize that the young leader in his late 20s
will lead the nation,” he said.
The expert played down the possibility that the younger Kim’s China trip is focused on gaining economic assistance from China, North Korea’s closest ally.
Baek declined to give a detailed interpretation of China’s motives to accept Jong-un’s visit even though he doesn’t officially represent the North. “China has a consistent
policy regarding the succession issue. It repeated that it won’t intervene in sovereignty-related issues,” he said.
A government official, who asked not to be named, agreed that the main purpose of Jong-un’s China visit is to affirm internationally that he is the man to rule the reclusive
nation.
North Korea watchers speculated that Jong-un may meet Xi Jinping, vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Central Military Commission who is reportedly to replace
President Hu Jintao as president next year, during this trip.
If realized, it will be viewed as a meeting between the next leaders of China and North Korea.
Park Young-ho, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said the younger Kim’s China trip will be better understood when it is put in the
context of North Korea’s deepening economic dependency on China.
Considering the trade setting, he said China has become more significant to the North than ever before.
“It’s like North Korean version of seeking China’s endorsement for the younger Kim as its next leader,” he said. “I don’t want to describe it like this, but it will be easier
for one to understand accurately the purpose of the younger Kim’s China trip when explaining it like that. North Korea’s interpretation will be different though as it put
heavy emphasis on self-determination.”
Park noted Jong-un’s China trip will also help him establish leadership credentials as the itinerary included historic sites in the northern provinces of China.
“During Japanese colonial rule, Korean independence fighters teamed up with the Chinese to fight against their common enemy, which in the region is Japan,” he said.
The late Kim Il-sung, Jong-un’s grandfather, was one of the independence fighters having joined the anti-Japanese campaign in the 1930s.
“By visiting those sites, the younger Kim will be viewed by grass-root North Koreans as a legitimate successor of the revolution of which his grandfather played a part.”
Park remained skeptical about the possible impact of the younger Kim’s China trip on inter-Korean relations or the resumption of stalled nuclear talks.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/116_87352.html
But eventually this piece will be just good-for-nothing... Because the same paper, on its online edition, had to report today in the early evening(KST) the following:
[Urgent]NK leader, but not his son, visiting China: presidential office
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was visiting China Friday, a Seoul government source said, contradicting earlier reports that his heir-apparent son, Jong-un, traveled to the
country.
The trip, if confirmed, will be the leader's third in slightly over one year. He had visited China in early May and late August last year.
It has yet to be confirmed whether the 69-year-old leader was accompanied on the trip by his heir-apparent son, the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The name of the junior Kim was not on an official list of about 70-member entourage, said the source.(Yonhap)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87369.html
Yep, that we can call perfect serous and investigative journalism!!
Anyways, please enjoy a nice weekend!!!
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