Korean Congress of Trade Unions rejects deal with government, prepares for general strike. KCTU delegates reject the "Tripartite Agreement" - Rank and File Revolution in KCTU Delegate Convention KCTU rejected the tripartite agreement in extraordinary delegation convention held in Seoul on February 9. The convention hall was filled with about 270 regular delegates and over 500 observers, and the session began at 2:00 p.m., ending at 3:00 a.m. next morning with heated discussion and tough debates. In the course of discussions, delegates said, "We cannot accept the legislation of lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems, for it will endanger our lives", "If those systems are legislated, our workplace will be ruined", "Such measures as the legalization of National Teachers' Union or the guarantee of unions' political activities are important, but they are fundamental labor rights which ought to be guaranteed, not something for deal with lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems." And some delegates showed their strong opposition against the tripartite agreement, claiming that "KCTU leadership, which would not accept the lay-off and temporary manpower agencies systems, arbitrarily signed the agreement, and this is no better than authority arbitration of business union leaders who absolutely ignore opinions of their rank and file union members." KCTU delegate felt sorry and indignant at the situation of leadership resignation en masse, but they also recognized it is right for democratic union movement "to correct errors in a humble way on the basis of comradely affection". They resolved "to prepare a new struggle, on the basis of unity and solidarity, not division." Official Statement of KCTU delegation convention The Decisions made by Extraordinary Delegates Convention on Feb. 9 1. approval of the tripartite agreement: rejected by 184 delegates of 272 attending - against the legislation, and demanding renegotiations; if not accepted, start of struggle; if legislated, immediate start of general strike; concrete plans shall be committed to ECC. 2. total resignation of standing staffs of KCTU 3. infinite postponement of KCTU official election 4. formation of Emergency Executive Committee(EEC) election of Dan Byung-Ho as chairperson of EEC (present president of KDFMTU, Korean Democratic Federation of Metal Trade Unions) 5. adoption of the resolution demanding dissolution of chaebols, legalization of National Teachers' Union, release of imprisoned workers, reinstatement of dismissed workers, etc. (Drafting resolution shall be committed to EEC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ #2/ Official Resolution of KCTU delegation convention Resolution of KCTU delegates The Plan for KCTU general strike struggle WE DEMAND the retirement of chaebol chiefs and offering their personal wealth to the society WE ARE AGAINST the legislation of lay-off on managerial reasons and temporary manpower agencies systems 1. The Tripartite Social Agreement, drafted in the dawn of February 6, contains inadequate and formal proposal about chaebol reform, and it rejects the proposal of retirement of chaebol chiefs and offering their personal wealth to the society, introduction of external directors and auditors, and legislation of workers participation in corporate management. 2. And it gives employers unfettered freedom to lay off the workers, even in case of merger and acquisition, and makes its intention clear to legislate the man-power agencies system, which is bound to cause insecure employment, worsened working conditions and weakened union activities. Besides, it endangers the fundamental living condition and rights of workers by providing 5 trillion won for job security fund, which is below the minimum requirement for efficient work, and by rejecting the payment of union officials. 3. In this situation, KCTU declares that the Tripartite Social Agreement is essentially anti-labor measure, passing the suffering to workers exclusively, not sharing the burdens, and resolves to struggle resolutely according to the following schedule. 1) KCTU has nullified the key points of the tripartite agreement by voting against it in 8th extraordinary delegate convention of February 9th. So KCTU leadership resigned in a body in responsibility for this temporary agreement, and a new Emergency Executive Committee was formed, in which representatives of industrial federations and regional councils took part. Dan Byung-Ho, President of Korean Democratic Federation of Metal Trade Unions, was appointed as chair of Emergency Executive Committee by delegates. 2) KCTU demand strongly once again the retirement of chaebol chiefs, who are most responsible for the current economic crisis, and offering their personal wealth to the society, the stoppage of unfair labor practice, the release of imprisoned workers, and the reinstatement of dismissed workers. We also emphasize the demands for such reform measures as the fundamental reform of chaebol system through introducing external director and auditor, workers' participation in corporate management, and separation of property and management, the guarantee of workers fundamental rights corresponding the international labor norms, the funding of 10 trillion won for job security, and the stoppage of legislation of lay-off on managerial reasons and temporary manpower agencies systems 3) In order to implement these demands, KCTU call for President-Elect's camp to renegotiate in the tripartite commission, and if this call is not accepted or the legislation is attempted, KCTU will not attend the tripartite commission and start the general strike struggle on national scale. For this purpose, KCTU member unions will resolve to wage general strike on February 11 and 12, and hold a rally before National Congress for New Politics headquarter at noon n February 12. And from the afternoon of February 13, KCTU will launch a national-wide general strike(before February 13, in case lay-off and manpower agency bills are on agenda in the standing commission of National Assembly, KCTU will launch a general strike immediately), and on the day of the general strike, KCTU will organize massive regional rallies after union rallies in workplace. 4. Finally, KCTU strongly demands President-Elect camp that the attempt be stopped forcefully to legislate lay-off and temporary manpower agencies system and that the renegotiation proposal be accepted for thorough reform of chaebol system and stabilization of employment. And we wholeheartedly do not hope that their rejection of our proposal will cause unnecessary situation. February 10, 1998 Emergency Executive Committee of KCTU Chairperson DAN, Byung-Ho --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - #3/ ----- Forwarded message follows ----- Delivery-Date: Thu, 12 Feb 98 06:47:47 +0000 From: ericlee@usa.net To: union-d@wolfnet.com Reply-To: union-d@wolfnet.com Subject: Seoul: Riot police deployed; gov't threatens unions Hundreds of South Korean riot police have been deployed in central Seoul, surrounding the Myongdong Cathedral where leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions took shelter during last year's general strike. They have been sent there in order to prevent history repeating itself, as Korea braces for a renewal of the general strike on Friday. Meanwhile, both South Korea's labour minister and an official of the International Monetary Fund have made blatant threats against the KCTU if it goes ahead with the planned strikes. At this time, it is vitally important for the international trade union movement to rally to the defense of the Korean unions who most elementary rights are being threatened.