[asia-apec 323] Korean strike-report-17

[AMRC]

Strike Urgent Report #17
    - edited on January 19,1997 at 01:00
 THIRD day of the General Strike in The THIRD WAVE

KCTU Change Strategy : Government Next ?

The Korea Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) carries out a conversion of
strategy  after 23 days of general strike that overall strikes which have
continued are replaced time-limited strikes on every Wednesday .

On January 7, the KCTU decided in an executive meeting of the struggle
headquaters, that they lower the level of the general strike lasting until
now, and go on strikes only every Wednesday. But, the leaders who has gone
on a sit-in strike, will keep the present state, and every Wednesday and
Saturday, they will hold large-scale mass rallies in big cities including
Seoul, pressuring the government into revising the revised labour law. 

They also said, " if the government does not accept the request of
labourer's circles, we plan to resume the 4th phase of general strike."
Accordingly, the aspect of general strike continuing since the ruling party
bulldozed the bills of labour and National Security Planning Agency act,
changes rapidly and the political situation also seems to take a new turn.


This change of strategy  by the KCTU is based on their judgement that,
while supporting opinions are expanding broadly to opposition parties,
academic, religious, circles and ordinary citizens, the front organization
lines begin to reveal the limitation of 'persistence' followed by long-dated
strikes.

The KCTU leaders notify to the recent emerging mood that influences of the
hard-liners seen to shrink, with the logic of revision rising even in the
ruling party. In these relatively 'moderate ' circumstances, such a decision
is expected to put pressure on the government, as well as to block the
possibility of public censure. 

But the principle that so far as the revised labour law is not nullified,
strikes will continue, is still effective in that the KCTU warns that the
government of resume of general strikes including public sector if their
demand fails to be fulfilled by February 18. Therefore, the next turn of
choice goes to President and the ruling party.

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Published by the Telecommunication Taskgroup for General Strike (ITGS)
Distributed through online BBS Service and internet twice a day 

phone: +822-855-1913
E-mail:rys at member.sing-kr.org
Homepage: http://kpd.sing-kr.org/strike