CINA

본문

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.