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20 December, 1999A high participation rate in the partial general strike has sent a strong message to the government.
KOREA, REP: A report received from Korea's largest umbrella trade union organisation, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, says that 100,000 people participated in their general strike on December 17. This included 15,000 at the protest rally, despite frigid weather. Altogether, some 30 unions were on all-out strike and over 700 unions went on partial strike, using the time for a general assembly and trade union education.
In a speech to the crowd, Park In-sang, the president of the FKTU, laid blame on the government for its labour policies which, in the wake of the economic recovery, are not giving top priority to getting the unemployed back at work. He also attacked the political corruption of corporations, saying that instead of spending on political funding, capital should be used for corporate welfare expenses.
The street march was peaceful, and a second general strike is being organised for December 23.
In a speech to the crowd, Park In-sang, the president of the FKTU, laid blame on the government for its labour policies which, in the wake of the economic recovery, are not giving top priority to getting the unemployed back at work. He also attacked the political corruption of corporations, saying that instead of spending on political funding, capital should be used for corporate welfare expenses.
The street march was peaceful, and a second general strike is being organised for December 23.