Global Courant
SEOUL – The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the most militant of the country’s two largest labor unions, has announced two weeks of strikes starting Monday to demand the resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The strikes, which are expected to involve a total of 400,000 to 500,000 workers, come in protest against labor reform measures proposed by Mr Yoon and as a wider backlash against perceived anti-union policies.
On Monday, about 3,000 workers, mostly couriers and home appliance repair workers, will begin the strike and stop work to hold a rally at Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul.
After this meeting more members of the KCTU will join.
Large-scale rallies are scheduled for Wednesday across the country, including in the metropolitan cities of Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju and the southern island of Jeju.
The next day, some service members will hold a meeting for Sungnyemun in Seoul. On July 8, officials will hold a meeting in Yeouido, Seoul.
On July 12, metalworkers go on a general strike. On July 13, health and medical workers and office workers will gather in Seoul to hold a demonstration. A rally calling for Mr. Yoon’s resignation will be held on July 15.
Candlelight rallies will be held across the country on the evenings of July 4, 7, 11 and 14 to push for the president’s resignation.
The KCTU estimates that the rallies from July 3 to 15 will draw a total of 400,000 to 500,000 workers.
The nationwide protests stem from a growing opposition to the labor reform measures proposed by Mr. Yoon. Mr. Yoon and the KCTU disagree over several government reform plans.
The Yoon government had proposed a plan to allow a maximum working week of 69 hours, while maintaining an average maximum week of less than 52 hours. However, after strong opposition from not only trade unions but also from the country’s youth, the government backed out of the plan.
Mr Yoon has taken a tough stance against illegal actions by trade unions as part of his wider trade union reforms.
Mr Yoon has demanded that unions increase their financial transparency, while denouncing the bribe practices of some construction unions and the political campaigning of some unions.
The Yoon administration is now implementing a plan to limit gatherings at night or during commutes, as well as gatherings of organizations that have a record of illegal demonstrations.
“We are going on a general strike because we need to stop regressive labor reforms. The KCTU declares an all-out struggle against the Yoon government, and this two-week strike is the first step,” KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo said at a news conference.
