A-Infos (en) Korea : Rank and file revolt, call general strike

[Platformist Anarchism <platform@geocities.com>]

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Background: Korean union delegates have rejected
the bureaucracies deal with the state and forced the
union leadership to resign en masse.  A general
strike is being prepared.

Original source LabourNet <chrisbailey@gn.apc.org>

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)

----

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

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