ICFTU backs campaign to reveal the true face of 'modern Korea'
The ICFTU represents 157 million workers in 225 affiliated organisations in
148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions:
http://www.global-unions.org. For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224 0232 or +32 476 62 10 18.
Source : International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Brussels, 30 May 2002 (ICFTU OnLine): 'Modern and sophisticated' is the image being pedalled by South Korean leaders in the run-up to the football World Cup, during which the country will be the focus of unprecedented international interest. A global trade union campaign launched today tells a different story. Korea's ten new purpose-built stadia fail to disguise a government using antiquated legislation and a police force with a tendency to use violence to repress workers' rights. They also cannot hide the numerous trade union leaders behind bars.
Anti-union violence is rife. In just one example this year, at the inaugural conference of the Korean Government Employees Union on March 23, around 1000 anti-riot police forced their way in and arrested 192 delegates.
Football fans may see one side of South Korea, but what they won't see are around 30 trade union leaders incarcerated for activities which are protected as a fundamental human right in the true 'modern' world.
As such, the ICFTU has launched an internet-based awareness campaign highlighting the reality of modern South Korea. As part of a wide-ranging Global Unions campaign (www.global-unions.org/korea2002), unions around the world will be voicing their discontent about the unionists behind bars who most certainly won't be at the world cup. A day of action will take place on June 27th, when member unions of Public Services International (PSI) and the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) across the globe will protest outside their respective Korean embassies and send letters of protest to Korean President, Kim Dae-jung.
The two umbrella trade union bodies in the country, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), are both affiliated to the ICFTU.
Global Unions will be demanding the release of those imprisoned(including Dan-Byung-ho- President of the ICFTU-affiliated KCTU and Kim Jae-ghil, President of the FKTU-affiliated Korean Railworkers' Union) and the withdrawal of pending arrest warrants for all others.
For more information:
http://www.global-unions.org/korea2002
2002 / -0 / 6-
|
