Korean metalworkers strike against FTA

KOREA/USA: Over 9,000 members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) in the Chungcheong-namdo region went on strike today, June 25, protesting against the free trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S., scheduled for signature on June 30. The strike, which involved workers at auto-parts manufacturing companies in the region such as Modine, VDO Siemens, Riken, Tata Daewoo and GM Daewoo, was the first of a series of regional strikes planned in the lead-up to a national strike of KMWU members on June 28 and 29. The union is taking strike action to represent the interests of its members despite the government deeming the strike illegal and threatening to use the force of law against the union. Unions in the U.S. also continued their action opposing the FTA, including lobbying Congress. Unions in both countries are opposed to the free trade agreement for its lack of provisions to protect fundamental workers' rights and the consequent threat to employment and employment conditions in both countries. "The FTA will lead to an acceleration of capital mobility and financial speculation, thereby pitting American workers against Korean workers in unlimited restructuring and driving down wages, employment stability and working conditions," writes UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and KMWU President JUNG Gab-Deuk in a joint statement opposing the FTA, a copy of which is available on the IMF website. Speaking in support of the unions, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi said, "In negotiating this deal, neither government has evaluated the likely economic and social impact the deal will have on workers. This free trade agreement between the US and South Korea fails to include meaningful protection of fundamental workers' rights and threatens both the number of jobs and conditions of employment in both countries." The IMF has written a letter of support, published on the IMF website, expressing solidarity with the KMWU in South Korea, which is holding its first strike since forming an industrial union representing 150,000 metalworkers one year ago. The IMF calls on its affiliates to support the unions in South Korea by also sending letters of solidarity to: JUNG Gab-Deuk
President of KMWU
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