| kwwa |
2002-10-28 14:07:02, 조회 : 56 |
Jennifer Porges of AMRC interviewed Maria Rhie Chol Soon, head of the Korean
Women Workers Association United, Seoul, South Korea, about her reflections
of the recent general strike in South Korea.
JP: How heavily was the Women Workers Association United involved in the
general strike?
Rhie: _______________
JP: Can you give us some insight into the dynamics which led to the KCTU
declaring a general strike?
Rhie: The KCTU s affiliates include mainly three unions: a car company
union, a steel union and the office workers s union. Now, there are more
members from the office workers' union, whose member is the union's chair,
and there has developed conflicts between these three groups. The
metalworkers' union is more militant than the office workers' union, and
many times they can not take action because of this internal struggle.
Until Dec. 25, the KCTU could not decide what to do in response to the
proposed labour law. At the beginning, the metalworkers' union pushed for a
strike, but once the strike started, the metalworkers were not well organised.
JP: The general strike carried on for about one month, and was then
continued after the government did not follow through on its promise to
reconsider the amended labour laws. What, in you impression are some of the
outcomes of the general strike?
Rhie: One outcome is that the KCTU has become more united through the
strike. The KCTU feels the strike was positive for them in some respects,
as it brought them together and resolved some of the internal conflicts
within the KCTU.
Also, as a result of the strike, the KCTU and FKTU are becoming much
closer. Interestingly, the FKTU and KCTU s demands are becoming quite
similar on many fronts. During the strike, when leaders of the KCTU cut
their hair in protest to the government's actions, the FKTU followed with
several members cutting their hair in protest. This show of solidarity was
very meaningful for the Korean workers.
However, the current leader of the FKTU is more militant than others in the
FKTU, saying that the trade union movement must be genuine, and have an
elected member as the chair. When he was elected, he brought good people
into the organisation. And now, the FKTU even calls me for advise on some
issues. So, many workers are linking up with the FKTU, and the FKTU is
trying to push the union to be strong. If this continues in this direction,
it seems like they could work together on some issues.
Also, there are several similarities in their agendas. For example, on the
issues of wages and industrial accidents, I can see them continuing to work
together.
JP: Has the strike had any impact on the KCTU's agenda?
Rhie: One very important outcome of the strike was that it legitimised the
KCTU as a union representing the Korean workers. In the past the KCTU
fought for legal recognition from the government. However, before and
during the strike, the KCTU has built up the trust of the workers, and
workers support their efforts, as is evident from the large turnout of
support during the general strike. The strike conrimed that the KCTU
represents the voice of many Korean workers. In effect, it has been
"legalised" by the workers.
Also, last year the KCTU became an affiliate of the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions, which also brought it legitimacy as a
true trade union.
Therefore, now that the KCTU has recognition from the people in Korea, and
the international labour movement, it does not feel the issue of government
recognition is now so crucial. The KCTU is no longer just pushing for
multiple unions, but is focussing on dismissal laws, the flexible working
time regulation and the teachers union and public service unions'
acceptance. I think the strike has made the KCTU more committed to its
agenda, and has empowered the union.
JP: Was there a particular women's perspective to the strike?
Rhie: Many women supported the strike. Particularlly the women from the
hospital union and the clerical union were out in strong force, which was
very exicitng to see.
Actually, women workers are likely to be the some of the first and hardest
hit workers if the amended labour law is implemented. For example, the law
regarding the flexible working hours, the law making it easier to lay off
workers and the law allowing nightshift work as long as the total number of
hours remains under a certain limit will certainly adversely affect women
workers.
However, we did not have our own agenda during the strike, but joined in
the KCTU and FKTU's agenda, as we believed that we could not accept any of
the proposed amendements, and supported the position that it must be
withdrawn in its entirety.
Genrally, on dealing with women's issues, the KCTU does not have a women s
department, and therefore we often feel that women are more supported by the
FKTU than the KCTUand that the KCTU does not see this as an important issue
for its agenda.
One shortcoming in my mind is that the leaders of the movement are men, and
the press seemed to pick up participation of men, and not the women.
JP: What impact did the presence of the international trade union movement
have on the strike?
Rhie: The Korean labour movement in general did not have much experience in
the past in linking with the international movement. The ICEM s support and
stregnthening gave a lot of support for the Korean workers to come out for
the strike. But the ICFTU delegation went first to visit the leaders of the
FKTU rather than the KCTU.
Also, the government says that these international groups are insitgating
the strike. However, the reality is that they did not instigate the strike.
Many citizens don t know what the actual laws passed include, but know how
the law was pushed through in the early morning, which they find totally
unacceptable.
JP: Any final reflections?
Rhie: It is too soon to know the ultimate achievement of the strike and the
KCTU, and wether there is a way to further the developement of democracy
through this struggle.
One noteable thing about the strike was that it was about fundamental
changes in the law, ie a political -- not bread and butter -- issue. This
is the first time in 45 years that there has been a general strike on a
political issue, and against the government.
There has been significant international pressure to reform the labour law.
The ILO has been pushing for changes to bring South Korea's laws in line
with international standards, and the OECD extracted a promise in writing
from the Foreign Minister that Korea would modify the laws to comply with
the ILO recommendations. However, the government still did not respond to
these calls for change, and seems to be following the wishes of the business
community. Hopefully, after seeing the power of the people, the government
will recognise that it is time to change the laws and bring South Korea's
labour laws in line with international standards.
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