Hail to the Chief

We have a new president. Frets about her "militancy" should be ignored - as the president is to complete the previous chief's term, which ends in December, she won't be making changes to the executive.

Though why her term should be so abridged, I can't say. She was already vice-president, why did she have to be elected again, merely to complete the previous president's term? I suppose she has somewhat more "authority" now, but why not give her a full term in office? I may be obtuse, will someone please explain the logic at work here?

ILO Panel Calls for Civil Servants' Right to Strike

"An international labor committee has recommended that the South Korean government guarantee civil servants’ right to organize and minimize restrictions on their right to strike."

Whether teachers would avail themselves of this right if it were to be guaranteed is of course another question. Coming (as I do) from a work culture where the (convincing) threat of collective action is a time-honoured route to concessions at the negotiating table, I sometimes wonder how the KTU earns credibility with the Ministry of Education ... is it the weekly newspapers the union publishes and distributes? the conferences it organizes? the offices it maintains? the allies it finds in "civil society?"

How any of these, important as they are, would be perceived as even a marginal threat to government schemes, I can't say.

Give me a picket line or give me nothing!