CINA

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Railway Strike and plan for the next „General Strikes“ (KCTU, 12.30)

➠ As of December 31 11am, the members of KRWU go back to work and continue their struggle at workplaces.

➠ Under the slogan “Step Down, Park! Stop Privatisation!, Abolish Union Repression!,” KCTU will stage its 2nd general strike on January 9th and the 3rd on January 16th,
and will mobilize a nation wide simultaneous rallies on January 4th and People’s Day of Action on January 16th.

➠ The Government and Korail still maintain heavy disciplinary measures, criminal charge, lawsuit for compensation of damage and provisional seizure against the KRWU and striking workers.

The Korean Railway Workers Union, which has been striking for 22 days against the government’s plan for the railway privatization decided to return to work as of December 31, 11:00. According to the demand of the KRWU, the standing committee on land infrastructure and transportation in the National Assembly decided to establish a Sub-committee on Railway Development which is composed of 4 members from ruling party and 4 members from opposition parties. The subcommittee will be advised by a Policy Advisory Committee, composed of the Ministry, Korail, KRWU and civil experts. It will prepare a plan to prevent privatization of Suseo-KTX in short-term and comprehensive railway development plan in mid and long term. The KRWU welcome the establishment of the sub-committee and continue its struggle to stop privatization and defend the union and its members from disciplinary measures and possible union busting.

The Minister of Land infrastructure and Transportation welcomed the end of the strike, however, at the same time, reconfirmed its position that “The illegal strike is illegal.” The Korail also reconfirmed that it will maintain all the disciplinary measure planed, criminal chafe, lawsuit for compensation of damage of 7.7 billion KRW and provisional seizures for the union’s asset equivalent to 11.6 billion KRW. The related ministries are trying to legislate on the compulsory discharge(dismissal) against strikers in essential public services.

KCTU announced that it respect the KRWU’s decision to return to work and will keep its struggle to make sure that the discussion in the sub committee result in stopping privatization of railway and quality public services. It condemned the mass and heavy disciplinary measures, criminal charges and compensation of damage and provisional seizure and strongly requested to stop it. KCTU will continue its struggle in solidarity with social movements and international labour movements.

Regardless of the KRWU’s decision, under the slogan “Step Down, Park! Stop Privatisation! Abolish Union Repression!” KCTU will stage its 2nd general strike on January 9th and the 3rd on January 16th, and will mobilize a nation wide simultaneous rallies on January 4th and People’s Day of Action on January 16th.

International solidarity is still very urgently needed to stop violation of human and trade union rights of the heavy disciplinary measures, criminal charges, imprisonment and financial reprisal agains the striking workers and leaders of the union.

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BREAKING NEWS: Leaders of unionized rail workers agreed to end their prolonged strike after the ruling and opposition parties promised to form a parliamentary subcommittee aimed at ensuring no privatization of rail services...(Yonhap, 12.30)

But there was also confusion among workers on strike when the agreement was reported. Some members called the union office in inquiry or protest because the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), an umbrella group, hosted a massive solidarity strike Saturday, promising more protests to come in support of rail unionists...(Korea Times, 12.30)

Only two days ago - during the KCTU Rally - Kim Myeong-hwan, the Korail union leader, said via a live video message: “Issuing a license to operate a subsidiary for a new bullet train service is tantamount to declaring war against the people. We cannot accept it. The Korail labor union will continue to stage a general strike into the new year unless the government cancels the license.”

But as far as I know, the gov't has NOT canceled the license, and Kim’s name is on the agreement made with lawmakers...^^

No comment...

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First of all: Yesterday's "General Strike", announced by KCTU after thousands of riot cops attacked its HQ on Dec. 22, took NOT place...

But nonetheless, from the early afternoon till late at night, about 50,000(100,000 according to KCTU/the cops "counted" 25,000...) workers and citizens gathered in front of Seoul's City Hall to protest against the clampdown/attacks on KCTU/KRWU, as well as moves toward privatization of the nation’s railway system(though the administration denies such claims) and the current government’s election manipulation scandal. [A good summary about yesterday's protests in S.K. you'll get here! More updated reports in English and Korean you can read on LabourStart. And finally here you can watch(MUST SEE!!) the complete KCTU rally in front of City Hall]

Some observers are calling the outbreak of protests - yesterday's rally also demanded the resignation of Park Geun-hye's administration - a proof that public anger has nearly “reached its boiling point”. KCTU already annonced the next "general strikes": 2014.1.9 and Jan. 16 (and these dates are ordinary workdays!!)...

Here some impressions from yesterday's events in front and around the City Hall:

13,000 riot cops were mobilized to prevent "any street protest/demonstration"...

As you can see, the cops failed to prevent "any" street protest...

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Well, KCTU "definitely expxect" 1,000,000("백만시민대회/행동") participants! Other groups/organizations even plan on a kind of "revolutionary"(!!) scenario...

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"Christmas" season(^^) in S. Korea...

On "Christmas Eve"(12.24): Four KRWU activists, incl. deputy labor union leader Park Tae-man, who evaded arrest during a police raid in Seoul on last Sunday, have sought refuge inside the Jogyesa Temple in the capital. Hundreds of cops surrounded the area to arrest any of the individuals should they set foot outside the Buddhist temple(more related updated reports in English you can read here!)...

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A simple way to show your solidarity for the RAILWAY STRIKE and the S. Korean labor movement...

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"Christmas" season(^^) in S. Korea...

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Sunday morning(KST) in Seoul: More than 120 striking railway workers were arrested after riot cops forced their way into KCTU's HQ with tear gas to round them up... At the same time activists issued an allert: "Riot cops are entering the KCTU office to arrest the striking KRWU leaders. 4,600 riot police deployed. It's the first police raid on the KCTU office since its establishment!"

KRWU stated the following: This morning, at 09:00, the police invaded on the office of the KCTU , regarding that 6 of wanted leaders of the railway strike are hiding here.
5,500 riot cops including 900 SWAT were deployed for it. 800 supporters who were defending the office inside or outside of it.

The police broke the glass doors in the front side of the building to enter and sprayed paper spray to the supporters who were staying on the ground floor when the police moved them out.

In the course, around 120 people including some leaders of KCTU and its affiliates were arrested.

The media, especially the conservative, broadcasted live the raid, with blaiming the legitimate strike and union members.

Supporters are still resisting on thr upper floors and it is very dangerous when the police try to arrest them by force on the narrow stairs.

The strike is just and legitimate and the office of the KCTU is the center and heart of the democratic labour movement in S. Korea. This event vividly show the government's anti- democracy and anti union character!

Two very detailed reports(in Korean), incl. video and many pics you'll get here and here!! More updated info in English and Korean you can read on LabourStart...

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Last evening(12.19) in Seoul: 30,000 KCTU members(incl. 10,000 railway workers), civil rights activists and citizens gathered in front of City Hall(more detailed reports in Korean you'll get here) in solidarity with the KRWU strike(related updated articles in English you can read here), to mark the anniversary of president Park Geun-hye's election and called on her to keep her promise not to pursue rail privatization...

KRWU's chairman Kim Myeong-hwan(he's still hiding in KCTU's HQ to avoid his planned detention....) addressed the crowd via video message. Stating clearly that, "the strike will go on unabated" despite the government and KORAIL's increasing repression he called on all KRWU/KCTU members to participate in mass protests/candlelight rallies planned for December 21 and 23.