[vol.5] Voices from the Field_ CONSUMER BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN FOR LG DISMISSED WORKERS TO RETURN TO THEIR JOBS

CONSUMER BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN FOR LG DISMISSED WORKERS TO RETURN TO THEIR JOBS

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The LG group had dismissed 53 workers during the 5th and 6th Republics. They were dismissed because they participated in labor union activities. Last December, the group also dismissed 81 workers of Songyosa Inc., a subsidiary of the LG group, in Pusan. Under the government's globalization policy, "new management reform" and "new personal management system" business strategies have been the major cause of dismissing workers.

During this time, dismissed workers of the LG group have set up a sit-in tent in front of the Twin Building, the main building of the LG group, in Youido, Seoul, and demanded their reinstatement to their former positions. Some of them even carried a baby on their back during the struggle.

However, policemen and LG security guards forcibly removed tents, where workers were temporarily staying, from the front of the LG company. Dismissed workers even slept on the street covering themselves with newspapers, and they never give up the struggle for reinstatement to their former positions.

However, the LG group has not taken any measures to solve this issue. A band of thugs directed by the LG group was sent to violently harrass dismissed workers several times. Over 300 "gangsters" cruelly beaten five workers causing severe bruising.

Their ribs also were broken. Moreover about 10 'gangsters' caught one person and wounded his back with a live cigarette. It obviously was like a hell and is not the action of human beings. The dismissed workers sued the "gangsters." At the same time, LG group also sued the victims. This was terrible!

Consumers of products of the LG group, who knew of this immoral action done by the LG group and the critical situation of dismissed workers, gathered in front of the main building of the LG group on May 2nd, and May 22nd. Over 100 housewives urged the LG group to recover their morality and to solve the problem of dismissed workers.

LG consumers held a picket line and a rally supporting a letter of protest to the LG group president, Ku Pon-sung. With the election of the civilian government, many dismissed workers have been reinstated across the country. However, the LG group has ignored this reality.

Then, how can the LG group say that they love consumers, even though they cannot love their family members such as dismissed workers? LG consumers said that if the dismissed workers are not able to return to their former jobs, then they will co-operate with housewives, students and women's associations and carry on various protest activities including telephone calls and a consumer boycott.

The LG group, which used to advertise that, "consumers are the best decision makers," said to reporters that, "the participants of the rally got paid 20,000 won per person by dismissed workers." It also shouted that, "we don't need consumers like you." This is a clear infringement of the consciousness and human rights of consumers.

One participant, who is a neighbor of a dismissed worker, said that "someone worked very faithfully for the village, and later I found out that he was a dismissed worker of the LG group. Today I am here to help him with a clean heart. We, consumers will not buy products of bad companies, because our consciousness has been raised. We know what is wrong or right. Workers produce goods we use everyday, so how can they be dismissed due to their participation in labor union activities."

The LG group, which has been threatened by consumers' active support of dismissed workers as well as workers' struggle, fabricated an incident on April 19 and filed a law suit against a worker on the grounds of business interference and defamation. He was forcibly arrested by 'gangsters' of the LG group. I, as one of fired workers, feel very sad because this is the real face of the LG group.

Ironically, belief in human respect has been their catch phrase for years. Dismissed workers and their family members have suffered from dismissal for periods of as little as several months to seven or eight years. Their suffering is indescribable and inexpressible. They still have a long and rough struggle ahead.

However, we have been encouraged by a rally by consumers. It proves that our struggle has gained the support from the general public. We also planned another rally at 5 pm. on June 7. LG customers, labor unions, dismissed workers, and students will ask for the release of arrested workers and the reinstatement of dismissed workers at the front of Anyang station. The purpose of the rally will be to expand the struggle to a nationwide level. Today, I will also work untiringly in order to help arrested and dismissed workers and to make the world a place worth living in.