Worth repeating (since I carry a Canadian passport)
EI’s consultant on international trade, David Robinson, says the negotiations are not primarily aimed at reducing tariffs --- which are already less than 3 per cent in the most traded sectors.
“When we speak about an economic partnership agreement between the EU and Canada, we’re not talking about a traditional free trade agreement where the focus is on cutting tariffs for trade in goods and services,” he explains. “What we’re really talking about is a second generation trade agreement where the aim is to harmonize or weaken regulatory measures that might affect trade, such as standards, qualification requirements and licensing procedures.”
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Stop suppressing democracy and basic labor rights right now
The KCTU’s position over the May 16th massive arrest
Democracy and human rights are in retreat in South Korea. With extreme violent acts, the Korean government and the police are tramping upon democracy, human rights and basic labor rights. The May 15th massive arrest in Daejeon was an ‘intended violence' of the police to mask oppression on labor unions taken by the government and management of Korea Express, a major logistics company. Despite the emergency intervention of the ILO and the criticism from the international community, the government has ignored them and continuously resorted to forceful measures. We strongly denounce the Lee Myeong-bak Administration on its oppression on labor unions.
On May 16th at a workers' rally in Daejeon alone, as many as 486 union members were arrested, which was the largest number since the inauguration of the Lee administration. In addition, more than 100 people were injured. It was the government and the police that caused the clash. If a peaceful march had been secured, the conflict would not have occurred. The police blocked the peaceful march and provoked protesters. Then the police arrested them with an excuse of a clash that followed. All people wearing a raincoat or a union vest were arrested indiscriminately even after the rally was finished. Some people were arrested at the expressway exit, restaurants or even sidewalks. It was not legitimate law enforcement but a revengeful act.
Many arrestees complained of their suffering from being beaten with batons and shields, but the police did not provide emergency medicine with them properly. Most people wearing wet clothes stayed the night on the floor of police stations or in a hall of the buildings without any single blanket. People who were severely injured were forced to make a confession statement before getting treatment. Even a prisoner of war would not have been treated in this way. It was an outright violation of human rights, which could only be seen under the dictatorial regime in the past.
It is regrettable that the protesters clashed with the police. Both the police and protesters got injuries and their vehicles damaged. Behind the collision, however, are the president's anti-labor policies. The confrontation was caused after Korea Express Inc. broke a collective agreement on 30-won increase in transportation fee. Rather than reflecting on its behavior, the company now insists that they will not negotiate with the Cargo Transportation Workers' Union (CTWU). The company dared to do so because the government has continuously taken anti-labor stance. The government does not recognize a union of specially-employed workers like truckers. The ILO has been deeply concerned over the Korean government's attitude and recently declared to intervene in this matter.
The ILO's May 4th letter informed us that the organization accepted our request to intervene in the Korean government's order. The government had ordered the Korea Transport Workers Union and the Korea Construction Workers Union to ‘voluntarily’ deprive workers in special employment such as ready mixed concrete-carrying truck, dump truck and freight drivers of the union membership and had threatened to cancel the registration of the unions if they did not follow the order. The ILO's ‘intervention’ means that the government's order and threats to labor union constitute severe violation of labor rights. The denial of rights has become the subject of derision in the international community to the extent that the ‘intervention' was carried out by the ILO. The government's outrageous oppression on labor unions led to the death of Park Jong-tae, the freight trucker union’s Gwanju branch leader, and the May 16th violence.
The KCTU has considered a series of recent events as the government's attack on democracy, basic labor rights and human rights. We will take proper measures against it. We warn the government that if the pending issues which drove Park to death are not solved, we will launch mass strikes. In addition, we will conduct joint struggles to defend democracy with human rights, civic, social organization as well as progressive political parties.
The KCTU urge the government to change its view on labor policies. We also ask for the resignation of chief of the National Police Agency and a direct apology of the president for the massive arrest. We want to make it clear that if our requests are not accepted, we will have no choice but intensify our struggle and the whole blame will fall on the government.
May 18th, 2009
Korea Confederation of Trade Unions
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9118 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
Democracy and human rights are in retreat in South Korea. With extreme violent acts, the Korean government and the police are tramping upon democracy, human rights and basic labor rights. The May 15th massive arrest in Daejeon was an ‘intended violence' of the police to mask oppression on labor unions taken by the government and management of Korea Express, a major logistics company. Despite the emergency intervention of the ILO and the criticism from the international community, the government has ignored them and continuously resorted to forceful measures. We strongly denounce the Lee Myeong-bak Administration on its oppression on labor unions.
On May 16th at a workers' rally in Daejeon alone, as many as 486 union members were arrested, which was the largest number since the inauguration of the Lee administration. In addition, more than 100 people were injured. It was the government and the police that caused the clash. If a peaceful march had been secured, the conflict would not have occurred. The police blocked the peaceful march and provoked protesters. Then the police arrested them with an excuse of a clash that followed. All people wearing a raincoat or a union vest were arrested indiscriminately even after the rally was finished. Some people were arrested at the expressway exit, restaurants or even sidewalks. It was not legitimate law enforcement but a revengeful act.
Many arrestees complained of their suffering from being beaten with batons and shields, but the police did not provide emergency medicine with them properly. Most people wearing wet clothes stayed the night on the floor of police stations or in a hall of the buildings without any single blanket. People who were severely injured were forced to make a confession statement before getting treatment. Even a prisoner of war would not have been treated in this way. It was an outright violation of human rights, which could only be seen under the dictatorial regime in the past.
It is regrettable that the protesters clashed with the police. Both the police and protesters got injuries and their vehicles damaged. Behind the collision, however, are the president's anti-labor policies. The confrontation was caused after Korea Express Inc. broke a collective agreement on 30-won increase in transportation fee. Rather than reflecting on its behavior, the company now insists that they will not negotiate with the Cargo Transportation Workers' Union (CTWU). The company dared to do so because the government has continuously taken anti-labor stance. The government does not recognize a union of specially-employed workers like truckers. The ILO has been deeply concerned over the Korean government's attitude and recently declared to intervene in this matter.
The ILO's May 4th letter informed us that the organization accepted our request to intervene in the Korean government's order. The government had ordered the Korea Transport Workers Union and the Korea Construction Workers Union to ‘voluntarily’ deprive workers in special employment such as ready mixed concrete-carrying truck, dump truck and freight drivers of the union membership and had threatened to cancel the registration of the unions if they did not follow the order. The ILO's ‘intervention’ means that the government's order and threats to labor union constitute severe violation of labor rights. The denial of rights has become the subject of derision in the international community to the extent that the ‘intervention' was carried out by the ILO. The government's outrageous oppression on labor unions led to the death of Park Jong-tae, the freight trucker union’s Gwanju branch leader, and the May 16th violence.
The KCTU has considered a series of recent events as the government's attack on democracy, basic labor rights and human rights. We will take proper measures against it. We warn the government that if the pending issues which drove Park to death are not solved, we will launch mass strikes. In addition, we will conduct joint struggles to defend democracy with human rights, civic, social organization as well as progressive political parties.
The KCTU urge the government to change its view on labor policies. We also ask for the resignation of chief of the National Police Agency and a direct apology of the president for the massive arrest. We want to make it clear that if our requests are not accepted, we will have no choice but intensify our struggle and the whole blame will fall on the government.
May 18th, 2009
Korea Confederation of Trade Unions
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9118 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
Monday, December 29, 2008
The KTU makes news in the north!
It's not every day that the KCNA mentions the Korean Teachers Union ...
December 27. 2008 Juche 97
Lee Myung Bak Group's Suppression of Jongyojo under Fire
Pyongyang, December 26 (KCNA) -- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration of south Korea released a statement on Dec. 20 denouncing the Lee Myung Bak puppet group for their crackdown upon the Teachers' Union of south Korea (Jongyojo).
The statement accused the prosecution authorities of perpetrating such violent actions as searching the office of the Seoul branch of Jongyojo and confiscating documents there on Dec. 11 on unreasonable charges and committing similar crimes in the office of Progressive Network on Dec. 19.
This rowdyism is nothing but an undisguised targeted search and suppression perpetrated by the Lee regime under the pretext of "security" as it is aimed to destroy Jongyojo at any cost, regarding it as a thorn in its flesh, it charged.
It urged the prosecution authorities, a waiting maid of the Lee regime, to immediately halt the suppression of Jongyojo and the Lee regime to step down at once as it is keen to bring back the era of dictatorship.
December 27. 2008 Juche 97
Lee Myung Bak Group's Suppression of Jongyojo under Fire
Pyongyang, December 26 (KCNA) -- The Youth and Students Solidarity for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration of south Korea released a statement on Dec. 20 denouncing the Lee Myung Bak puppet group for their crackdown upon the Teachers' Union of south Korea (Jongyojo).
The statement accused the prosecution authorities of perpetrating such violent actions as searching the office of the Seoul branch of Jongyojo and confiscating documents there on Dec. 11 on unreasonable charges and committing similar crimes in the office of Progressive Network on Dec. 19.
This rowdyism is nothing but an undisguised targeted search and suppression perpetrated by the Lee regime under the pretext of "security" as it is aimed to destroy Jongyojo at any cost, regarding it as a thorn in its flesh, it charged.
It urged the prosecution authorities, a waiting maid of the Lee regime, to immediately halt the suppression of Jongyojo and the Lee regime to step down at once as it is keen to bring back the era of dictatorship.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Hankyoreh on the challenges facing the KTU
[Editorial] The KTU’s long road back to achieving ‘true education’
“Who has called us educators?”
So started the founding declaration of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU, Jeon Gyo Jo) on May 28, 1989. The document starts with introspection about what teachers had become. “We have infringed on students’ ‘right to learn’ (hakseupgwon) by not responding to the demand for honest education and for having allowed ourselves to become the propaganda brigade of the ruling forces, because of the harsh coercion of the dictatorship regime as it tramples on the independence and political neutrality of education.”
The accomplishments in democratizing education that teachers, parents and students have achieved with sweat and blood in the two decades since the KTU began with that self-reflection as its point of departure are now like a lamp facing the wind. Just like the dictatorships, the Lee Myung-bak administration has made a concerted effort to turn education into part of the propaganda apparatus of the political establishment, turning local boards of education into the administration’s puppets. It has come to the point where teachers are being fired just for informing students of the mere fact they have a choice as to whether to take the state-administered examination, the ilje gosa. You are watching a return of the barbaric era of years ago, when roughly 1,500 teachers were fired at the time of the KTU’s early beginnings.
The administration’s attacks on history textbooks, in order to distort them to its liking while ignoring the scholarly and educational accomplishments in the area, are just one of its many barbaric actions. More basically, the problem is how education marketization policy is tearing education apart and causing extremes of socioeconomic polarization in education in general, this under the name of school autonomy. It is making students into test machines with “school diversification policy” and the policy on “giving schools choice,” which essentially means the revival of the fiercely competitive ipsi university entrance system. It is worsening education’s dependence on extracurricular, supplementary tutoring and turning education into a tool for handing down wealth and social status among the few from one generation to the next.
The KTU has chosen a new leadership team. It feels awkward having to congratulate the new leadership at a time like this. On the other hand, when has KTU ever enjoyed peaceful times? The dictators always tried write off democratic and humane “cham (true) education” as “communist indoctrination” while dismissing teachers who were aware of what needed to be done. The way current administration, the old establishment media, government education authorities at various national and local levels, and public security agencies have joined together as one in the effort is just like it was two decades ago.
The KTU achieved legality despite all the suppression, and it has been the main promoter of the democratization of education. It has been powered by the full support of parents and students, which itself originated in the KTU’s dedication and passion for cham education. In these dark times, we hope to see the KTU rise again for the long march of educational democratization, renewing the resolve it had at its founding, respecting the will of students and parents, and standing tall as the main doers of education that is true.
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
Posted on : Dec.13,2008 13:25 KST
“Who has called us educators?”
So started the founding declaration of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU, Jeon Gyo Jo) on May 28, 1989. The document starts with introspection about what teachers had become. “We have infringed on students’ ‘right to learn’ (hakseupgwon) by not responding to the demand for honest education and for having allowed ourselves to become the propaganda brigade of the ruling forces, because of the harsh coercion of the dictatorship regime as it tramples on the independence and political neutrality of education.”
The accomplishments in democratizing education that teachers, parents and students have achieved with sweat and blood in the two decades since the KTU began with that self-reflection as its point of departure are now like a lamp facing the wind. Just like the dictatorships, the Lee Myung-bak administration has made a concerted effort to turn education into part of the propaganda apparatus of the political establishment, turning local boards of education into the administration’s puppets. It has come to the point where teachers are being fired just for informing students of the mere fact they have a choice as to whether to take the state-administered examination, the ilje gosa. You are watching a return of the barbaric era of years ago, when roughly 1,500 teachers were fired at the time of the KTU’s early beginnings.
The administration’s attacks on history textbooks, in order to distort them to its liking while ignoring the scholarly and educational accomplishments in the area, are just one of its many barbaric actions. More basically, the problem is how education marketization policy is tearing education apart and causing extremes of socioeconomic polarization in education in general, this under the name of school autonomy. It is making students into test machines with “school diversification policy” and the policy on “giving schools choice,” which essentially means the revival of the fiercely competitive ipsi university entrance system. It is worsening education’s dependence on extracurricular, supplementary tutoring and turning education into a tool for handing down wealth and social status among the few from one generation to the next.
The KTU has chosen a new leadership team. It feels awkward having to congratulate the new leadership at a time like this. On the other hand, when has KTU ever enjoyed peaceful times? The dictators always tried write off democratic and humane “cham (true) education” as “communist indoctrination” while dismissing teachers who were aware of what needed to be done. The way current administration, the old establishment media, government education authorities at various national and local levels, and public security agencies have joined together as one in the effort is just like it was two decades ago.
The KTU achieved legality despite all the suppression, and it has been the main promoter of the democratization of education. It has been powered by the full support of parents and students, which itself originated in the KTU’s dedication and passion for cham education. In these dark times, we hope to see the KTU rise again for the long march of educational democratization, renewing the resolve it had at its founding, respecting the will of students and parents, and standing tall as the main doers of education that is true.
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
Posted on : Dec.13,2008 13:25 KST
Saturday, December 13, 2008
[kctupower] KCTU President Arrested - Calling for Solidarity!
KCTU President Arrested!
Bro. Lee Suk-haeng, President, was arrested on 10:40 pm, December 5th by the police due to organizing an “illegal” general strike on July 2nd, 2008 and solidarity struggles to support E-land Retail Precarious workers strike in 2007. The July 2nd general strike was conducted to call for protection of people’s right to health and renegotiation of April 18 Protocol on US beef import to reflect food safety concerns. Since the June, 2007, the E-land Retail precarious workers union has conducted strike to protest against the termination of contract and illegal subcontracting by the employer which was aimed at evading relevant provisions in the new irregular workers bill that went into effect on the 1st of July, 2007. The KCTU organized various solidarity actions to support the E-land Retail Shop precarious workers strike.
Bro. Lee Suk-haeng would be mainly charged with “obstruction of business” provision in section 314 of the Penal Code due to the role in July 2nd General Strike and solidarity actions for Eland Retail precarious workers. However, we believe that workers organization should be able to use strike action to pursue solutions to problems posed by social and economic policies. And it should be noted that the ILO strongly urges that no one should receive criminal sanction or be deprived of their freedom for the fact of simply exercising the right to strike. In particular, we would like to emphasize that the ILO has recommended continuously that South Korean government “adopt a general practice of investigation without detention of workers and bring section 314 of the Penal Code (obstruction of business) in line with freedom of association principles.”
At the hearing to review a detention warrant against Bro. Lee on December 8th, the Court ruled the detention of him.
Facing this urgent situation, we are calling you to conduct every possible measure to urge the South Korean Government to stop trade union repression, implement and respect fully the ILO CFA recommendations and principles of freedom of association, and adopt a general practice of investigation without detention of workers including an immediate release of Bro. Lee Suk-haeng. [KCTU]
Bro. Lee Suk-haeng, President, was arrested on 10:40 pm, December 5th by the police due to organizing an “illegal” general strike on July 2nd, 2008 and solidarity struggles to support E-land Retail Precarious workers strike in 2007. The July 2nd general strike was conducted to call for protection of people’s right to health and renegotiation of April 18 Protocol on US beef import to reflect food safety concerns. Since the June, 2007, the E-land Retail precarious workers union has conducted strike to protest against the termination of contract and illegal subcontracting by the employer which was aimed at evading relevant provisions in the new irregular workers bill that went into effect on the 1st of July, 2007. The KCTU organized various solidarity actions to support the E-land Retail Shop precarious workers strike.
Bro. Lee Suk-haeng would be mainly charged with “obstruction of business” provision in section 314 of the Penal Code due to the role in July 2nd General Strike and solidarity actions for Eland Retail precarious workers. However, we believe that workers organization should be able to use strike action to pursue solutions to problems posed by social and economic policies. And it should be noted that the ILO strongly urges that no one should receive criminal sanction or be deprived of their freedom for the fact of simply exercising the right to strike. In particular, we would like to emphasize that the ILO has recommended continuously that South Korean government “adopt a general practice of investigation without detention of workers and bring section 314 of the Penal Code (obstruction of business) in line with freedom of association principles.”
At the hearing to review a detention warrant against Bro. Lee on December 8th, the Court ruled the detention of him.
Facing this urgent situation, we are calling you to conduct every possible measure to urge the South Korean Government to stop trade union repression, implement and respect fully the ILO CFA recommendations and principles of freedom of association, and adopt a general practice of investigation without detention of workers including an immediate release of Bro. Lee Suk-haeng. [KCTU]
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
SMOE screws teachers
The Hankyoreh:
Seoul Education Office to nullify collective bargaining agreement
The KTU:
SMOE says: Unions can’t 'intervene' in education policy, so policy 'accords' need to be corrected.
CEART would say: if policy affects
SMOE, not the KTU, is 'intervening' where it should not!
(And if there is a committee responsible for monitoring the teacher assessment plan, every member should read these 2008 reports very carefully. They could prove to be very effective weapons.)
Seoul Education Office to nullify collective bargaining agreement
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education notified the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU, Jeon Gyo Jo) and other teachers’ unions that it has fully scrapped collective bargaining agreement it signed with the unions in 2004. Tensions began to flare when the union voiced its opposition to the move, calling it an “an attempt to incapacitate unions.”
The KTU:
This illegal and arbitrary decision indicates very clearly that SMOE does not recognize teachers’ organizations as partners in public education, in direct violation of United Nations agreements to which South Korea is party.
SMOE says: Unions can’t 'intervene' in education policy, so policy 'accords' need to be corrected.
CEART would say: if policy affects
1) teachers' freedom or responsibility, orthen teacher organizations must be negotiated with.
2) perceptions of teachers' professional competencies, or
3) the functioning of the education system as a whole, or
4) the ability of teacher organizations to participate meaningfully in dialogue on any of the above,
SMOE, not the KTU, is 'intervening' where it should not!
(And if there is a committee responsible for monitoring the teacher assessment plan, every member should read these 2008 reports very carefully. They could prove to be very effective weapons.)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Support Migrant Workers Freedom of Association and MTU [kctupower]
Dear Friends and Allies,
Please show your support for the Migrants Trade Union and the right of migrant workers in South Korea to form and join trade unions. Send a statement expressing support for MTU’s right to freedom of association to the South Korean Supreme Court.
The Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union (MTU), an affiliated of the Korean Confederation of Trade unions, was formed in 2005 as a union for and by migrant workers regardless of visa status. We seek to improve working conditions, stop the crackdown against undocumented migrant workers and win migrant workers’ human and labor rights.
Since we were found the government of South Korea has sought to stop our activities, refusing to acknowledge our legal union status and targeting our leadership for arrest and deportation. This repression has grown even stronger in recent months. MTU’s second president, vice president and general secretary were arrested in a targeted crackdown and deported at the end of last year. And again, on May 2nd MTU’s third president and vice president were arrested by immigration officers who had been waiting in hiding for them and then deported on May 15th. The Ministry of Justice carried out the deportation despite the fact that the National Human Rights Commission had made a decision calling for a stay of deportation until its investigation into human rights violations during the arrests into was complete.
This heighten repression comes right as the Supreme Court decision that will decide on MTU’s legal union status draws near. The Ministry of Labor and South Korean government have been refusing to grant MTU legal union status based on the assertion that undocumented migrant workers do not have the right to freedom of association under Korean law. MTU has since been fighting to gain recognition. On February 1, 2007, the Seoul High Court, overturning a pervious decision, ruled in favor of MTU’s legal union status, stating clearly that undocumented migrant workers are recognized as workers under the South Korean Constitution and the Trade Union Law, and therefore the subjects of legally protected basic labor rights, including the right to freedom of association. The Ministry of Labor appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court where a decision is expected wit! hin this year, as early as next month.
International human rights conventions which South Korea has signed, and which it is bound to respect under its own Constitution, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) all protect the rights of workers regardless of social status to freedom of association. In particular, the CERD General Recommendation No. 30(2004) states that “guarantees against racial discrimination apply to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status” and that “all individuals are entitled to the enjoyment of labor and employment rights, including the freedom of assembly and association, once an employment relationship has been initiated until it is terminated.&! rdquo; In addition, ILO Convention No. 87 protects the right to freedom of association for all workers, “without distinction whatsoever” and has been shown to apply to undocumented migrant workers through Committee on Freedom of Association recommendations (UGT, 2001 and AFL-CIO/CTM, 2002). While South Korea has not ratified Convention No. 87, it is bound to uphold the rights protected in it as a member of the ILO under the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998).
Despite this basis in domestic and national law, the Ministry of Labor is still refusing to acknowledge MTU’s legal union status. The new conservative president Lee Myeong-bak has also stated he will not tolerate MTU. MTU’s needs the support of organizations around the world to assure it will gain the legal recognition it deserves!
International human rights and labor organizations and the South Korean National Human Rights Commission have all decided to send position statements in support of MTU to the Supreme Court. We are asking that your organization also issue a statement supporting MTU’s legal union status and send it by fax to the Supreme Court. Please also send a copy to the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Justice. All statements will be announced at an upcoming press conference.
A sample statement is included below. However, we welcome self-written statements reflecting the position of your organization as these send and even more powerful message.
Please send a copy of your statement to the KCTU at inter@kctu.org, and MTU at MTUintl@jinbo.net
Sample Position Statement
Supreme Court, Republic of Korea
Teukbyul 3bu
219 Seocho-ro, Seocho-gu
Seoul 137-750
Republic of Korea
Fax: 02-2-533-2824
Ministry of Labor
427-718 Government Complex II,
Jungang-dong1, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do,
Republic of Korea
Fax: 82-2-3679-6581
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea
Building 1, Gwacheon Government Complex,
Jungang-dong 1, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Republic of Korea
Fax: 82-2-2110-3079
Regarding Supreme Court Case No. 2007du 4995
To the Honorable Justices of the South Korean Supreme Court
The Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union was founded in 2005 and has been carrying out legitimate union activities since. The South Korean Ministry of Labor and South Korean administration have refused to acknowledge MTU’s legal union status because its founders are undocumented migrant workers. However, as was shown in the Seoul High Court ruling of February 1, 2007, the South Korean Constitution and the Trade Union Law protect the right to freedom of association of all those who enter into employment relations as workers, including undocumented migrant workers.
International law to which South Korea is party including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) all protect the rights of workers, regardless of social status, to freedom of association. In particular, the CERD General Recommendation No. 30(2004) states that “guarantees against racial discrimination apply to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status” and that “all individuals are entitled to the enjoyment of labor and employment rights, including the freedom of assembly and association, once an employment relationship has been initiated until it is terminated.” In addition, ILO Convention No. 87, which South Korea is bound t! o uphold as a member of the ILO, protects the right to freedom of association for all workers, “without distinction whatsoever” and has been shown to apply to undocumented migrant workers through CFA recommendations (UGT, 2001 and AFL-CIO/CTM, 2002).
We are concerned that the Ministry of Labor’s denial of MTU’s union status is in contradiction to these international conventions and to South Korean domestic law. It is our position that countries that adhere to international human and labor rights standards must protect the right of migrant workers, regardless of visa status, to freedom of association. As such, it is our position that the denial of MTU’s legal union status should be reversed and MTU should be granted recognition.
We hope that the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court will take these matters into consideration and make a decision that upholds the South Korean Constitution and the international conventions to which South Korea is party.
Sincerely,
Representative’s Name,
Organization
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
Please show your support for the Migrants Trade Union and the right of migrant workers in South Korea to form and join trade unions. Send a statement expressing support for MTU’s right to freedom of association to the South Korean Supreme Court.
The Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union (MTU), an affiliated of the Korean Confederation of Trade unions, was formed in 2005 as a union for and by migrant workers regardless of visa status. We seek to improve working conditions, stop the crackdown against undocumented migrant workers and win migrant workers’ human and labor rights.
Since we were found the government of South Korea has sought to stop our activities, refusing to acknowledge our legal union status and targeting our leadership for arrest and deportation. This repression has grown even stronger in recent months. MTU’s second president, vice president and general secretary were arrested in a targeted crackdown and deported at the end of last year. And again, on May 2nd MTU’s third president and vice president were arrested by immigration officers who had been waiting in hiding for them and then deported on May 15th. The Ministry of Justice carried out the deportation despite the fact that the National Human Rights Commission had made a decision calling for a stay of deportation until its investigation into human rights violations during the arrests into was complete.
This heighten repression comes right as the Supreme Court decision that will decide on MTU’s legal union status draws near. The Ministry of Labor and South Korean government have been refusing to grant MTU legal union status based on the assertion that undocumented migrant workers do not have the right to freedom of association under Korean law. MTU has since been fighting to gain recognition. On February 1, 2007, the Seoul High Court, overturning a pervious decision, ruled in favor of MTU’s legal union status, stating clearly that undocumented migrant workers are recognized as workers under the South Korean Constitution and the Trade Union Law, and therefore the subjects of legally protected basic labor rights, including the right to freedom of association. The Ministry of Labor appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court where a decision is expected wit! hin this year, as early as next month.
International human rights conventions which South Korea has signed, and which it is bound to respect under its own Constitution, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) all protect the rights of workers regardless of social status to freedom of association. In particular, the CERD General Recommendation No. 30(2004) states that “guarantees against racial discrimination apply to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status” and that “all individuals are entitled to the enjoyment of labor and employment rights, including the freedom of assembly and association, once an employment relationship has been initiated until it is terminated.&! rdquo; In addition, ILO Convention No. 87 protects the right to freedom of association for all workers, “without distinction whatsoever” and has been shown to apply to undocumented migrant workers through Committee on Freedom of Association recommendations (UGT, 2001 and AFL-CIO/CTM, 2002). While South Korea has not ratified Convention No. 87, it is bound to uphold the rights protected in it as a member of the ILO under the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998).
Despite this basis in domestic and national law, the Ministry of Labor is still refusing to acknowledge MTU’s legal union status. The new conservative president Lee Myeong-bak has also stated he will not tolerate MTU. MTU’s needs the support of organizations around the world to assure it will gain the legal recognition it deserves!
International human rights and labor organizations and the South Korean National Human Rights Commission have all decided to send position statements in support of MTU to the Supreme Court. We are asking that your organization also issue a statement supporting MTU’s legal union status and send it by fax to the Supreme Court. Please also send a copy to the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Justice. All statements will be announced at an upcoming press conference.
A sample statement is included below. However, we welcome self-written statements reflecting the position of your organization as these send and even more powerful message.
Please send a copy of your statement to the KCTU at inter@kctu.org, and MTU at MTUintl@jinbo.net
Sample Position Statement
Supreme Court, Republic of Korea
Teukbyul 3bu
219 Seocho-ro, Seocho-gu
Seoul 137-750
Republic of Korea
Fax: 02-2-533-2824
Ministry of Labor
427-718 Government Complex II,
Jungang-dong1, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do,
Republic of Korea
Fax: 82-2-3679-6581
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea
Building 1, Gwacheon Government Complex,
Jungang-dong 1, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Republic of Korea
Fax: 82-2-2110-3079
Regarding Supreme Court Case No. 2007du 4995
To the Honorable Justices of the South Korean Supreme Court
The Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union was founded in 2005 and has been carrying out legitimate union activities since. The South Korean Ministry of Labor and South Korean administration have refused to acknowledge MTU’s legal union status because its founders are undocumented migrant workers. However, as was shown in the Seoul High Court ruling of February 1, 2007, the South Korean Constitution and the Trade Union Law protect the right to freedom of association of all those who enter into employment relations as workers, including undocumented migrant workers.
International law to which South Korea is party including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) all protect the rights of workers, regardless of social status, to freedom of association. In particular, the CERD General Recommendation No. 30(2004) states that “guarantees against racial discrimination apply to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status” and that “all individuals are entitled to the enjoyment of labor and employment rights, including the freedom of assembly and association, once an employment relationship has been initiated until it is terminated.” In addition, ILO Convention No. 87, which South Korea is bound t! o uphold as a member of the ILO, protects the right to freedom of association for all workers, “without distinction whatsoever” and has been shown to apply to undocumented migrant workers through CFA recommendations (UGT, 2001 and AFL-CIO/CTM, 2002).
We are concerned that the Ministry of Labor’s denial of MTU’s union status is in contradiction to these international conventions and to South Korean domestic law. It is our position that countries that adhere to international human and labor rights standards must protect the right of migrant workers, regardless of visa status, to freedom of association. As such, it is our position that the denial of MTU’s legal union status should be reversed and MTU should be granted recognition.
We hope that the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court will take these matters into consideration and make a decision that upholds the South Korean Constitution and the international conventions to which South Korea is party.
Sincerely,
Representative’s Name,
Organization
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
Monday, July 14, 2008
Solidarity Appeal to Support the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union, KFCITU [kctupower]
Background
From July 1 to September 20, 2006 over 4,000 members of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Local Union, an affiliate of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Union went on strike. Their demands were a 15% increase in wages, implementation of a five-day work week, safe and healthy working conditions, and dignity and respect at the work site. Although the union members were hired by subcontractors, they worked at the construction plants operated by POSCO, a major steel production company in South Korea. Thus, POSCO had a direct influence over the sub contractors as they controlled the conditions and the ultimate approval of all contracts with these subcontractors.
During the strike the union engaged in several industrial actions, the most public was the sit-down demonstration conducted by 3,000 union members at POSCO headquarters in Pohang for nine days starting July 1st. In an effort to support the workers who were holed up inside POSCO headquarters and surrounded by more than 10,000 riot police, local unions affiliated with the KFCITU conducted rallies that were brutally suppressed by the riot police.
In the end, the workers peacefully concluded the sit-down demonstration and the strike came to an end when over 67% of the membership agreed to accept the agreement. It should be noted that the agreement the union had signed in September, 2006 specifically contained language that would ensure that union members would be not be barred from work in POSCO facilities even though they were hired by subcontractors. Nevertheless, at the time both the sub contractors association and POSCO had stated that at least 25 union members including the key leadership would be barred from working at POSCO.
Members of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union Still in Jail
The strike would come at high costs to the local union, as it resulted in the arrest of close to 100 union members. Currently eight are still in jail having been sentenced to two and a half years to three and a half years for their leading role in the sit-down demonstration and strike. With the exception of Lee Ji Kyung, former President of the local union, all are expected to be released later this month. In addition, close to 200 members were injured in the various industrial actions that took place during the strike and as a result many were hospitalized. However, the most tragic result of the strike is the tragic death of Ha Joong Keun.
Ha Joong Keun, who was brutally beaten on the head by several riot police during a demonstration on July 17 in front of POSCO headquarters, while his colleagues were conducting a sit-down demonstration inside POSCO headquarters died on August 1 due to his injuries. Even though nearly two years have passed since his death the government has still failed to take full official responsibility for his death. The union’s calls for an impartial government investigation have yet to materialize.
Relationship between Sub Contractors and POSCO
The members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are categorized as subcontract and irregular (non-permanent) workers. Since regular (permanent) workers are hired directly by the company they are guaranteed three basic labor rights---the right to organize, the right to strike, and the right to bargain. On the other hand, sub contract workers must negotiate with the sub contractors as they are hired by them but in reality the real power in terms of determining wages, working conditions, and work hours lies with the user company, the principal contractor, in this case POSCO.
In many cases user companies have terminated contracts with sub contracts once the workers organize and form a union. Because of this, many sub contract companies refuse to negotiate with the union. Furthermore, both the user company and the sub contract company shift the blame between each other in refusing to recognize and negotiate the union.
POSCO Repression of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union
Since the 2006 strike conducted by the union, POSCO has used its political and economic clout in Pohang, where they control at least 70% of the economy to implement a deliberate and strategic plan to break the union through the following tactics:
1. Linking employment with Union Disaffiliation
Workers who are members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are refused employment and are barred from working on POSCO facilities until they disaffiliate from the union.
In order for union members to work in POSCO construction sites even though they are hired by subcontractors they must possess entrance passes issued by POSCO. However, POSCO refused to issue entrance passes to union members. This is in violation of South Korean labour laws.
POSCO exercises preference over subcontractors that refuse employment to members of the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union.
2. Rejection of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
A collective bargaining agreement is a promise between the trade union and the employer that was agreed upon in good faith bargaining. Even though the POSCO was not the party to the agreement between the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union, they have a strong influence in the implementation of the CBA through their role as the principal contractor.
After the 2006 strike, POSCO filed a civil lawsuit against the union seeking compensatory damage of one million and eight thousand US dollars.
POSCO auctioned off a tract of land acquired for the construction of a building for the labour union. Thus, POSCO is using financial tactics to break the union.
3. Union Officials are Barred from Entering POSCO Facilities
Prior to the strike officials of the union routinely visited POSCO operated construction sites to address the needs and concerns of union member; however, they are now limited access to the site to twice a week. This clearly restricts and interferes with the union’s ability to conducting trade union activities.
Since the union officials and staff have limited access to the construction site, there is also less scrutiny or questions raised on occupational safety and health standards resulting in a greater increase in the number of work-related accidents.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Please send your letters (a sample letter is enclosed) to Mr. Ku Taek Lee, Chairman and CEO
POSCO, 89-2 POSCO Center, Kangnam-gu, Dae Chi Dong, Seoul, Korea, Via fax : +82-2-3457-6000
2. You can also send your protest comments (see a sample below) on the POSCO website at www.posco.com
3. Please send copies of letters (sample letter is below) to the KFCITU headquarters at 82-2-843-1436 (Fax) or e-mail it to kfcitu@hanmail.net
SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Ku Taek Lee
Chairman and CEO
POSCO
89-2 POSCO Center
Kangnam-gu, Dae Chi Dong
Seoul, Korea
Via fax: +82-2-3457-6000
Dear Chairman Lee
On behalf of the ____, I am writing to express our outrage at your repression against the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union affiliated to the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions.
In July 1, 2006 the union had engaged in a strike that was amicably resolved through a collective bargaining agreement between the union and the subcontractors association on September 20, 2006. As you know this agreement included language that specifically stated trade union members would not be discriminated or barred from working in POSCO facilities. However, it is our understanding that your company has been using your strong influence as a principal contractor to link union membership with employment. Union members have been denied identification passes to POSCO facilities and we have been told that you have asked union members to disaffiliate to remain employed or be employed. This is a violation of South Korean Industrial Labour Laws 81.
More importantly, I would like to point out this is violation of the ILO Convention 87---Freedom of Association. This also goes against POSCO’s policy of Codes of Conduct which you adopted in June 2003. According to your company’s Code of Conduct, the goal of POSCO is to “implement corporate ethics that meet internationally accepted standards thus making another bold step toward becoming a globally respected and trusted company.” In both the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, there are specific articles pertaining to the right to organize, the right to join a union, and the right to strike. Even though the members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are not directly hired by POSCO, they still work in a POSCO work site and thus the international conventions comply.
POSCO is internationally recognized for being a major global company. Your company prides itself in having a vision that ensures ethical and social responsibilities. We would like to point out that a major social responsibility of your company should be the workers who work at your facilities regardless of how they are employed because as a principal contractor you have major responsibilities regarding the working conditions particularly around the issues of health and safety. Since your company has deliberately restricted the access of union officials and organizers to address issues of their members, we have been told there is a lack of adherence to safety and health regulations resulting an increase of work-related accidents at POSCO construction sites. This is unacceptable and worrisome for us because workers safety should come first before any form of profit.
We urge you to immediately stop repressing the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union by immediately stopping all anti-union campaign against the union. Be a positive corporate leader by respecting trade union rights for all workers in your work sites. In doing this your company will be truly a leader in the international business community.
Sincerely,
Your Union President
E-mail Sample Comment
I am writing to express our outrage at your repression against the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union affiliated to the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions.
It is my understanding that POSCO has utilized its influence as a principal contractor to link union membership with employment. Union members have been denied identification passes to POSCO facilities and we have been told that you have asked union members to disaffiliate to remain employed or be employed. This is a violation of South Korean Industrial Labour Laws 81. This also goes against your company’s policy of Codes of Conduct which you adopted in June 2003. According to your company’s Code of Conduct, the goal of POSCO is to “implement corporate ethics that meet internationally accepted standards thus making another bold step toward becoming a globally respected and trusted company.” In both the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, there are specific articles pertaining to the right to organize, the right to join a union, and the right to strike. Even though the members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are not directly hired by POSCO, they still work in a POSCO work site and thus the international conventions comply.
We urge you to immediately stop repressing the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union by immediately stopping all anti-union campaign against the union. Be a positive corporate leader by respecting trade union rights for all workers in your work sites. In doing this your company will be truly a leader in the international business community.
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
From July 1 to September 20, 2006 over 4,000 members of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Local Union, an affiliate of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Union went on strike. Their demands were a 15% increase in wages, implementation of a five-day work week, safe and healthy working conditions, and dignity and respect at the work site. Although the union members were hired by subcontractors, they worked at the construction plants operated by POSCO, a major steel production company in South Korea. Thus, POSCO had a direct influence over the sub contractors as they controlled the conditions and the ultimate approval of all contracts with these subcontractors.
During the strike the union engaged in several industrial actions, the most public was the sit-down demonstration conducted by 3,000 union members at POSCO headquarters in Pohang for nine days starting July 1st. In an effort to support the workers who were holed up inside POSCO headquarters and surrounded by more than 10,000 riot police, local unions affiliated with the KFCITU conducted rallies that were brutally suppressed by the riot police.
In the end, the workers peacefully concluded the sit-down demonstration and the strike came to an end when over 67% of the membership agreed to accept the agreement. It should be noted that the agreement the union had signed in September, 2006 specifically contained language that would ensure that union members would be not be barred from work in POSCO facilities even though they were hired by subcontractors. Nevertheless, at the time both the sub contractors association and POSCO had stated that at least 25 union members including the key leadership would be barred from working at POSCO.
Members of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union Still in Jail
The strike would come at high costs to the local union, as it resulted in the arrest of close to 100 union members. Currently eight are still in jail having been sentenced to two and a half years to three and a half years for their leading role in the sit-down demonstration and strike. With the exception of Lee Ji Kyung, former President of the local union, all are expected to be released later this month. In addition, close to 200 members were injured in the various industrial actions that took place during the strike and as a result many were hospitalized. However, the most tragic result of the strike is the tragic death of Ha Joong Keun.
Ha Joong Keun, who was brutally beaten on the head by several riot police during a demonstration on July 17 in front of POSCO headquarters, while his colleagues were conducting a sit-down demonstration inside POSCO headquarters died on August 1 due to his injuries. Even though nearly two years have passed since his death the government has still failed to take full official responsibility for his death. The union’s calls for an impartial government investigation have yet to materialize.
Relationship between Sub Contractors and POSCO
The members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are categorized as subcontract and irregular (non-permanent) workers. Since regular (permanent) workers are hired directly by the company they are guaranteed three basic labor rights---the right to organize, the right to strike, and the right to bargain. On the other hand, sub contract workers must negotiate with the sub contractors as they are hired by them but in reality the real power in terms of determining wages, working conditions, and work hours lies with the user company, the principal contractor, in this case POSCO.
In many cases user companies have terminated contracts with sub contracts once the workers organize and form a union. Because of this, many sub contract companies refuse to negotiate with the union. Furthermore, both the user company and the sub contract company shift the blame between each other in refusing to recognize and negotiate the union.
POSCO Repression of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union
Since the 2006 strike conducted by the union, POSCO has used its political and economic clout in Pohang, where they control at least 70% of the economy to implement a deliberate and strategic plan to break the union through the following tactics:
1. Linking employment with Union Disaffiliation
Workers who are members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are refused employment and are barred from working on POSCO facilities until they disaffiliate from the union.
In order for union members to work in POSCO construction sites even though they are hired by subcontractors they must possess entrance passes issued by POSCO. However, POSCO refused to issue entrance passes to union members. This is in violation of South Korean labour laws.
POSCO exercises preference over subcontractors that refuse employment to members of the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union.
2. Rejection of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
A collective bargaining agreement is a promise between the trade union and the employer that was agreed upon in good faith bargaining. Even though the POSCO was not the party to the agreement between the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union, they have a strong influence in the implementation of the CBA through their role as the principal contractor.
After the 2006 strike, POSCO filed a civil lawsuit against the union seeking compensatory damage of one million and eight thousand US dollars.
POSCO auctioned off a tract of land acquired for the construction of a building for the labour union. Thus, POSCO is using financial tactics to break the union.
3. Union Officials are Barred from Entering POSCO Facilities
Prior to the strike officials of the union routinely visited POSCO operated construction sites to address the needs and concerns of union member; however, they are now limited access to the site to twice a week. This clearly restricts and interferes with the union’s ability to conducting trade union activities.
Since the union officials and staff have limited access to the construction site, there is also less scrutiny or questions raised on occupational safety and health standards resulting in a greater increase in the number of work-related accidents.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Please send your letters (a sample letter is enclosed) to Mr. Ku Taek Lee, Chairman and CEO
POSCO, 89-2 POSCO Center, Kangnam-gu, Dae Chi Dong, Seoul, Korea, Via fax : +82-2-3457-6000
2. You can also send your protest comments (see a sample below) on the POSCO website at www.posco.com
3. Please send copies of letters (sample letter is below) to the KFCITU headquarters at 82-2-843-1436 (Fax) or e-mail it to kfcitu@hanmail.net
SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Ku Taek Lee
Chairman and CEO
POSCO
89-2 POSCO Center
Kangnam-gu, Dae Chi Dong
Seoul, Korea
Via fax: +82-2-3457-6000
Dear Chairman Lee
On behalf of the ____, I am writing to express our outrage at your repression against the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union affiliated to the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions.
In July 1, 2006 the union had engaged in a strike that was amicably resolved through a collective bargaining agreement between the union and the subcontractors association on September 20, 2006. As you know this agreement included language that specifically stated trade union members would not be discriminated or barred from working in POSCO facilities. However, it is our understanding that your company has been using your strong influence as a principal contractor to link union membership with employment. Union members have been denied identification passes to POSCO facilities and we have been told that you have asked union members to disaffiliate to remain employed or be employed. This is a violation of South Korean Industrial Labour Laws 81.
More importantly, I would like to point out this is violation of the ILO Convention 87---Freedom of Association. This also goes against POSCO’s policy of Codes of Conduct which you adopted in June 2003. According to your company’s Code of Conduct, the goal of POSCO is to “implement corporate ethics that meet internationally accepted standards thus making another bold step toward becoming a globally respected and trusted company.” In both the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, there are specific articles pertaining to the right to organize, the right to join a union, and the right to strike. Even though the members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are not directly hired by POSCO, they still work in a POSCO work site and thus the international conventions comply.
POSCO is internationally recognized for being a major global company. Your company prides itself in having a vision that ensures ethical and social responsibilities. We would like to point out that a major social responsibility of your company should be the workers who work at your facilities regardless of how they are employed because as a principal contractor you have major responsibilities regarding the working conditions particularly around the issues of health and safety. Since your company has deliberately restricted the access of union officials and organizers to address issues of their members, we have been told there is a lack of adherence to safety and health regulations resulting an increase of work-related accidents at POSCO construction sites. This is unacceptable and worrisome for us because workers safety should come first before any form of profit.
We urge you to immediately stop repressing the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union by immediately stopping all anti-union campaign against the union. Be a positive corporate leader by respecting trade union rights for all workers in your work sites. In doing this your company will be truly a leader in the international business community.
Sincerely,
Your Union President
E-mail Sample Comment
I am writing to express our outrage at your repression against the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union affiliated to the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions.
It is my understanding that POSCO has utilized its influence as a principal contractor to link union membership with employment. Union members have been denied identification passes to POSCO facilities and we have been told that you have asked union members to disaffiliate to remain employed or be employed. This is a violation of South Korean Industrial Labour Laws 81. This also goes against your company’s policy of Codes of Conduct which you adopted in June 2003. According to your company’s Code of Conduct, the goal of POSCO is to “implement corporate ethics that meet internationally accepted standards thus making another bold step toward becoming a globally respected and trusted company.” In both the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, there are specific articles pertaining to the right to organize, the right to join a union, and the right to strike. Even though the members of the Branch of Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union are not directly hired by POSCO, they still work in a POSCO work site and thus the international conventions comply.
We urge you to immediately stop repressing the Branch of the Pohang Construction Plant Workers Union by immediately stopping all anti-union campaign against the union. Be a positive corporate leader by respecting trade union rights for all workers in your work sites. In doing this your company will be truly a leader in the international business community.
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Guarantee Democracy and Human Rights at all Moments [kctupower]
Protesting the Denial of border entry of the KCTU Delegation to the G8 Summit by the Japanese government.
Statement from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions G8 Delegation
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) with a membership of 800,000 is a major confederation of South Korean trade unions actively fighting to advance democracy, human rights, and a democratic trade union movement. At this very moment, we are conducting a General Strike against the importation of U.S. beef; privatization of public services, and the failure of the current Lee Myung Bak government to address the genuine concerns raised by South Korean citizens about food safety. The negotiations around the importation of U.S. beef within the context of the unequal KORUS FTA has denigrated South Koreans the right to food safety and privatization will force the working poor to undergo more social sacrifices.
The G8 Summit is a gathering of representatives of corporations and governments that support their interests to further the advance an agenda of neoliberalism, privatization, and free trade. The neoliberal economic agenda has not only failed to resolve urgent issues that affect workers in general, but have triggered a global emergency on financial markets, food supply, and the environment. This is a moment when we truly need to seek another path, another direction, and another praxis.
Therefore, the KCTU delegation consisting of 9 representatives of various KCTU affiliates traveled to Japan to participate in the G8 Summit on July 4 to ensure that workers’ voices and interests were addressed. It was the goal of the KCTU delegation to join other civil society groups and popular movement to oppose the neoliberal agenda. We believe this is a fundamental human right and responsibility we carry in these momentous and challenging times.
Four members of the delegation arrived in Haneda Airport, where they were forced to undergo a lengthy individual examination without any proper explanation. The other members of the delegation that included KCTU Vice President Huh Young Goo were denied entry to Japan by the Japanese Immigration Department without any explanation. Their passports were confiscated and during the process Vice-President of the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union, Lee Keun Sun was detained when he protested the actions of the Japanese Immigration officials.
Prior to entry, the KCTU had notified the Japanese Immigration Department the purpose for their visit and the details of the activities during the G8 Summit. The KCTU had been invited by the Japan-based G8 Action Network to participate in their planned events. Despite having followed all proper standard protocol and procedures, the Japanese government unfairly denied the entry of the KCTU delegation
to the G8 Summit.
The KCTU believes that the irrational denial of entry by the Japanese government is politically motivated and an attempt by the government to pre-emptively block any dissenting voice during the G8 Summit. This is clearly a repression of people’s right to freedom of expression, right to dissent, and against human rights as guaranteed by all international conventions. The KCTU challenges the undemocratic actions of the Japanese government.
The KCTU determines that the denial of entry of the KCTU G8 Summit Delegation is an overprotective measure to ensure “peaceful” proceedings of the G8 Summit without any disruption or dissent. This is of course a repression of democracy and human rights. The KCTU will continue to organize for the right for workers to express their voices and raise concerns as a fundamental human right in solidarity with other trade unions and civil society groups in Japan as well as the social movement at the international level. At the same time, the KCTU will focus on revealing the corporate greed of the G8 Summit and to show that there are people’s alternatives to neoliberalization through dialogue and solidarity.
Finally, the KCTU wishes to convey its sincere thanks to Japanese and international trade unions and civil society groups for the support in this difficult time. In solidarity, we will stop the neoliberal agenda and achieve true democracy and human rights.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
July 7, 2008
Statement from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions G8 Delegation
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) with a membership of 800,000 is a major confederation of South Korean trade unions actively fighting to advance democracy, human rights, and a democratic trade union movement. At this very moment, we are conducting a General Strike against the importation of U.S. beef; privatization of public services, and the failure of the current Lee Myung Bak government to address the genuine concerns raised by South Korean citizens about food safety. The negotiations around the importation of U.S. beef within the context of the unequal KORUS FTA has denigrated South Koreans the right to food safety and privatization will force the working poor to undergo more social sacrifices.
The G8 Summit is a gathering of representatives of corporations and governments that support their interests to further the advance an agenda of neoliberalism, privatization, and free trade. The neoliberal economic agenda has not only failed to resolve urgent issues that affect workers in general, but have triggered a global emergency on financial markets, food supply, and the environment. This is a moment when we truly need to seek another path, another direction, and another praxis.
Therefore, the KCTU delegation consisting of 9 representatives of various KCTU affiliates traveled to Japan to participate in the G8 Summit on July 4 to ensure that workers’ voices and interests were addressed. It was the goal of the KCTU delegation to join other civil society groups and popular movement to oppose the neoliberal agenda. We believe this is a fundamental human right and responsibility we carry in these momentous and challenging times.
Four members of the delegation arrived in Haneda Airport, where they were forced to undergo a lengthy individual examination without any proper explanation. The other members of the delegation that included KCTU Vice President Huh Young Goo were denied entry to Japan by the Japanese Immigration Department without any explanation. Their passports were confiscated and during the process Vice-President of the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union, Lee Keun Sun was detained when he protested the actions of the Japanese Immigration officials.
Prior to entry, the KCTU had notified the Japanese Immigration Department the purpose for their visit and the details of the activities during the G8 Summit. The KCTU had been invited by the Japan-based G8 Action Network to participate in their planned events. Despite having followed all proper standard protocol and procedures, the Japanese government unfairly denied the entry of the KCTU delegation
to the G8 Summit.
The KCTU believes that the irrational denial of entry by the Japanese government is politically motivated and an attempt by the government to pre-emptively block any dissenting voice during the G8 Summit. This is clearly a repression of people’s right to freedom of expression, right to dissent, and against human rights as guaranteed by all international conventions. The KCTU challenges the undemocratic actions of the Japanese government.
The KCTU determines that the denial of entry of the KCTU G8 Summit Delegation is an overprotective measure to ensure “peaceful” proceedings of the G8 Summit without any disruption or dissent. This is of course a repression of democracy and human rights. The KCTU will continue to organize for the right for workers to express their voices and raise concerns as a fundamental human right in solidarity with other trade unions and civil society groups in Japan as well as the social movement at the international level. At the same time, the KCTU will focus on revealing the corporate greed of the G8 Summit and to show that there are people’s alternatives to neoliberalization through dialogue and solidarity.
Finally, the KCTU wishes to convey its sincere thanks to Japanese and international trade unions and civil society groups for the support in this difficult time. In solidarity, we will stop the neoliberal agenda and achieve true democracy and human rights.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
July 7, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
The KCTU Launches a General Strike Against the Announcement of South Korean government on April 18 Protocol on US beef [kctu power]
On June 25th, the KCTU Central Executive Committee voted to launch an unlimited General Strike to support the South Korean people’s movement against the government’s announcement to import U.S. beef as stipulated in the Protocol of April 18.
Upon immediately taking office, Lee Myung Bak rushed to make an agreement on import health requirements for US beef in order to promote the ratification process of KORUS FTA without any consultation with concerned parties including trade unions, peasants groups and civil society. With the publicity of agreement on the April 18 Protocol, South Korean people began to raise concerns about the safety of the U.S. beef that would be imported to South Korea. These concerns would galvanize into mass demonstrations in the form of candle light vigils that was attended by all sectors of South Korean society deeply concerned about the safety of the food put on their table. More importantly, South Koreans became increasingly angry over the indifferent attitude of the new government under the administration of Lee Myung Bak who refused to acknowledge the concerns of the people. His actions were reminiscent of “authoritarian-like” acts conducted under previous dictatorships and conservative governments. Since the agreement was announced, candlelight vigils and rallies have taken place on an almost daily basis. Especially, on June 10th, more than one million people gathered to protest against the April 18 protocol and other 'business-friendly' policies of the new government including privatization.
Due to the huge demonstration, the government had to postpone the announcement of April 18 Protocol and conduct additional consultation with the US government. According to the USTR News, "the June 13-19 discussions in Washington, led by Ambassador Schwab and Trade Minister Kim, focused on ways to facilitate the commercial, private-sector agreement between Korean importers and U.S. exporters to ship U.S. beef from animals less than 30-months for a transitional period until consumer confidence in South Korea improves. To support these voluntary commitments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will establish, once the import protocol is in force, the "Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea" administered by the U.S. government under the Agricultural Marketing Act. This program will verify that all beef shipped to Korea under the program is from cattle less than 30 months of age."
The contents of the beef deal that the government will notify to the public in an official gazette on the 26th regarding is exactly the same as what it had planned to make public last month. The only difference is the 3 supplementary provisions that were the result of the April 18th additional consultations. These added provisions state that 1) 'the two government support the transitional voluntary measures through the verification quality system assessment regarding less than 30 month age" cows, 2) that brains, eyes, skull bones, and spines will not be imported if importing firms do not put in orders for them, and that 3) regarding on-site inspections, the South Korean government can add beef processing sites that it judges to be necessary to the inspection list. Ultimately, the intestines, AMR, crushed meat, spine bones, leg bones, tail bones, and tongues, all previously denied release into domestic markets, will be imported without restrictions.
Regarding quarantine authority, the approval and revoking rights for export processing plants remains with the American government, and finally, there is no mention of regulating animal feed. This means that none of the concerns that have been raised so far have been properly addressed. Moreover, there are significant discrepancies between the South Korean government's announcement of the negotiation result and the American government's letter regarding it, adding fuel to the speculation that the South Korean government has intentionally 'gift-wrapped' the contents of the consultations in order to press ahead with the notification process and also to take the momentum away from further candlelight protests.
First of all, the U.S. government's letter has characterized the recent additional consultations not as a 'negotiation' but as 'discussions' between the two trade representatives to facilitate transitional measures based on commercial understanding. This means that the results of the talks are not binding. Furthermore, although the South Korean authorities have announced that import of the brains, eyes, spines, and skull bones have been 'stopped,' the U.S. letter states solely that "There have been no transaction up to the present regarding the brains, eyes, spines, and skull bones, for which no demand exists in Korea. We confirm the expectation that such commercial practices will continue." It seems clear that 'additional negotiations' were just a means to buy time so that the popular resentment at the international trade system, which does not allow the people access to the means to control the safety of the very food they eat.
Nevertheless, the government has disregarded the demands of the people for their right to healthy food and the defense of the country's sovereignty regarding inspections. It has instead focused on putting out the candles. The government announced the results of the additional negotiations on the 21st, and has pushed forward with notification on the 26th. This is equal to neglecting the basic rights of the people. It is also commensurate to a declaration by the Lee Myung-bak government that it is not willing to represent the will of the people, and that it is solely interested in constructing a market fundamentalist system, for the benefit of 1% of the privileged class of the population.
The KCTU has gone on a general strike to support the people's right to their health and the candlelight demonstrations, and also to oppose the privatization drive and neo-liberal policies of the Lee Myung-bak government. Taking into account the urgent nature of the situation, the KCTU's general strike will commence with those workplaces that are able to immediately commence on collective action, and the current plan is to progressively extend it to other federations and industrial unions.
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
Upon immediately taking office, Lee Myung Bak rushed to make an agreement on import health requirements for US beef in order to promote the ratification process of KORUS FTA without any consultation with concerned parties including trade unions, peasants groups and civil society. With the publicity of agreement on the April 18 Protocol, South Korean people began to raise concerns about the safety of the U.S. beef that would be imported to South Korea. These concerns would galvanize into mass demonstrations in the form of candle light vigils that was attended by all sectors of South Korean society deeply concerned about the safety of the food put on their table. More importantly, South Koreans became increasingly angry over the indifferent attitude of the new government under the administration of Lee Myung Bak who refused to acknowledge the concerns of the people. His actions were reminiscent of “authoritarian-like” acts conducted under previous dictatorships and conservative governments. Since the agreement was announced, candlelight vigils and rallies have taken place on an almost daily basis. Especially, on June 10th, more than one million people gathered to protest against the April 18 protocol and other 'business-friendly' policies of the new government including privatization.
Due to the huge demonstration, the government had to postpone the announcement of April 18 Protocol and conduct additional consultation with the US government. According to the USTR News, "the June 13-19 discussions in Washington, led by Ambassador Schwab and Trade Minister Kim, focused on ways to facilitate the commercial, private-sector agreement between Korean importers and U.S. exporters to ship U.S. beef from animals less than 30-months for a transitional period until consumer confidence in South Korea improves. To support these voluntary commitments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will establish, once the import protocol is in force, the "Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea" administered by the U.S. government under the Agricultural Marketing Act. This program will verify that all beef shipped to Korea under the program is from cattle less than 30 months of age."
The contents of the beef deal that the government will notify to the public in an official gazette on the 26th regarding is exactly the same as what it had planned to make public last month. The only difference is the 3 supplementary provisions that were the result of the April 18th additional consultations. These added provisions state that 1) 'the two government support the transitional voluntary measures through the verification quality system assessment regarding less than 30 month age" cows, 2) that brains, eyes, skull bones, and spines will not be imported if importing firms do not put in orders for them, and that 3) regarding on-site inspections, the South Korean government can add beef processing sites that it judges to be necessary to the inspection list. Ultimately, the intestines, AMR, crushed meat, spine bones, leg bones, tail bones, and tongues, all previously denied release into domestic markets, will be imported without restrictions.
Regarding quarantine authority, the approval and revoking rights for export processing plants remains with the American government, and finally, there is no mention of regulating animal feed. This means that none of the concerns that have been raised so far have been properly addressed. Moreover, there are significant discrepancies between the South Korean government's announcement of the negotiation result and the American government's letter regarding it, adding fuel to the speculation that the South Korean government has intentionally 'gift-wrapped' the contents of the consultations in order to press ahead with the notification process and also to take the momentum away from further candlelight protests.
First of all, the U.S. government's letter has characterized the recent additional consultations not as a 'negotiation' but as 'discussions' between the two trade representatives to facilitate transitional measures based on commercial understanding. This means that the results of the talks are not binding. Furthermore, although the South Korean authorities have announced that import of the brains, eyes, spines, and skull bones have been 'stopped,' the U.S. letter states solely that "There have been no transaction up to the present regarding the brains, eyes, spines, and skull bones, for which no demand exists in Korea. We confirm the expectation that such commercial practices will continue." It seems clear that 'additional negotiations' were just a means to buy time so that the popular resentment at the international trade system, which does not allow the people access to the means to control the safety of the very food they eat.
Nevertheless, the government has disregarded the demands of the people for their right to healthy food and the defense of the country's sovereignty regarding inspections. It has instead focused on putting out the candles. The government announced the results of the additional negotiations on the 21st, and has pushed forward with notification on the 26th. This is equal to neglecting the basic rights of the people. It is also commensurate to a declaration by the Lee Myung-bak government that it is not willing to represent the will of the people, and that it is solely interested in constructing a market fundamentalist system, for the benefit of 1% of the privileged class of the population.
The KCTU has gone on a general strike to support the people's right to their health and the candlelight demonstrations, and also to oppose the privatization drive and neo-liberal policies of the Lee Myung-bak government. Taking into account the urgent nature of the situation, the KCTU's general strike will commence with those workplaces that are able to immediately commence on collective action, and the current plan is to progressively extend it to other federations and industrial unions.
Lee Changgeun
International Executive Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
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