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Mar. 29  2024
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KCTU Joins With Foreign Workers At Rally For Imprisoned Leader

A contingent of workers and activists from Asia, Europe, and North America joined Korean workers to condemn Kim Dae-Jung's anti-labor policies and to demand the release of imprisoned KCTU leader Dan Byong-ho.

Source  :  BASE21


By Chang-nam Lee, Staff Reporter
(tolerance@base21.org)




Nov. 12 (Seoul, Korea) -- Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the largest national labor organization in Korea, held a rally yesterday in Youidou Park.

They called for the immediate release of KCTU chairman Dan Byong-ho, who has been controversially imprisoned as a result of government coercion and betrayal, supporters argue. (see "Threat of Imprisonment Used to Force KCTU to Re-Join Tripartite Commission").

Around 25,000 KCTU rank-and-file workers joined with trade union, internet, and activists from all over the world, who are in Seoul as participants of the Asia Internet Rights Conference, the Labor Media Conference, and the SIGTUR Congress.

They stood in solidarity with their Korean comrades in criticizing the Kim Dae-Jung administration for the detainment of President Dan.

Meanwhile, today was the first day of President Dan's trial at the Seoul district court. However, no breakthrough was made, and hopes for the possibility of a quick release remains dim.

In a press statement, Heo Young-koo, acting president of KCTU, made three demands: suspension of neo-liberal privatization, adoption of a five-day work week for temporary workers, and guarantee of an education budget.

"These demands are open to negotiation", he added.

Heo also announced that KCTU, which represents 600,000 workers all over South Korea, will increase its grassroots organizing for the rest of the year.

Heo reiterated his pledge that KCTU will lead the fight against the government's suppressive measures of trade unionists.

"The KCTU will continue its mobilization against the government's oppressive policies. We will unite with foreign trade unions and other grassroots organizations as part of our end-of-the-year strategy," a KCTU executive member said.


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