KHMU info <9> December 29, 2015

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to Continue their All-out Struggle to Prevent the Government’s Attempt to Make Five Retrogressive Revisions to the Labor Law

 

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, or KCTU, that has been waging an all-out struggle and strike to prevent the government’s attempt to make five retrogressive revisions to the Labor Law, is now unfolding a demonstration in front of the National Assembly building. Tents have been set up to accommodate union leaders from around the nation. From December 28, the members of KCTU will go on a sequential strike until 31. On 29, all the workers participating in the general strike will gather at Seoul for a general strike rally.

 

Korea Health and Medical Workers’ Union, or KHMU, will unfold a lobby rally for “KHMU General Strike All-out Struggle” on 28 during the lunchtime and take part in the general strike.

 

Korea’s ruling party, Saenuri Party, has used the excuse of passing a number of bills, including the five retrospective changes to the Labor Law, to convene a provisional session until the January 8 of next year. The opposition party is working to stop the laws from being passed, but Saenuri is capable of passing them unilaterally since they possess the majority of seats.

Urging that bills regarding the Labor Law and the Framework Act for the Development of Service Industry should be passed quickly, the Blue House is pressuring the Chairman of the Congress to stop his negotiation with the opposition party, and discharge his power to pass the bills.

 

The Chairman of KCTU, Han Sang-gyun, who turned himself to the police on December 10, has been fasting since 27 days ago. The police seized and searched 17 places belonging to 11 organizations including the headquarters office of KCTU. Until now, the police has detained 10 trade union leaders and issued summons for 250.

 

The police sent Mr. Han’s case to the prosecutor’s office after reporting publicly that he broke nine laws including the Assembly and Demonstration Act during the Sewol Ferry assembly in April, Labor Day assembly in May, and People’s  All-out Rally on November 14.

 

The charge of sedition, which is additionally charged on Mr. Han by the police, is used for the first time since 29 years ago in 1986 when a military regime was still in place.