Strike Continues for 2nd Day
A major umbrella union continued its general strike for the second straight day yesterday, but the number of member unionists joining was halved.
Source : Korea Times
A major umbrella union continued its general strike for the second straight day yesterday, but the number of member unionists joining was halved.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said 43,493 workers from 106 member unions nationwide were continuing their strike and that the union of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) will join Saturday.
The figure is a far cry from the Labor Ministry's claim of 15,215 workers from 43 unions in the strike as of 9 a.m.
The umbrella union asserted 70,000 workers joined the strike on the first day Wednesday.
On the return of staff at Ewha Medical Center to work early in the morning, the KCTU said the union struck a deal with the hospital.
``But we will continue the general strike as scheduled in order to realize our goals, including the introduction of the five-day workweek,'' a ranking KCTU official said.
Patients are suffering inconvenience at 16 hospitals nationwide whose unions are still on strike.
The KCTU decided to proceed with the general strike until the government gives a clear response to labor's demands for specific policies for a shorter workweek and the cancellation of the plan to merge cooperatives and sell Daewoo Motor to foreign companies.
The government threatened a strict crackdown on those who illegally lead strikes.
2000 / -0 / 6-
|
