korea staking
henk - 25.02.2002 18:27
korea staking
Korean workers go on ´illegal´ strike
Thousands of police are protecting key facilities
Monday, 25 February, 2002, 05:14 GMT
By Caroline Gluck
BBC Correspondent in Seoul
Thousands of trade union members have gone on strike in South Korea, disrupting train services across the country.
The action, taken by members of the national railway, gas and electricity corporations, is in protest at government plans to privatise the services.
The government will take stern measures against those that incited the strike
Lee Han-Dong,
Prime Minister The strike has disrupted the state-run railways, with only about a third of normal services running on many lines.
The government has mobilised non-union workers to keep gas and power services operating normally, while extra buses and flights are running.
Thousands of riot police have also been mobilised to protect key facilities.
But there are signs that the strike may be weakening.
Trade union leaders representing gas workers have reached a tentative agreement with management to return to work, although their members still have to ratify the deal.
Arrest warrants
The government is adamant that the strike, involving key public utilities, is illegal.
It has issued arrest warrants for 37 trade union leaders.
The country is undergoing painful economic restructuring
The strike is supported by the country´s two trade union umbrella groups.
They are calling on the government to shelve its plans to privatise the services, which they fear will lead to mass lay-offs.
They are also calling for improved working conditions, including the introduction of a five-day working week without a pay cut.
The unions say they will continue their strike unless their demands are met.
The action comes on the day that President Kim Dae-jung marks his fourth anniversary in office.
With key local and presidential elections this year, his government is facing pressure to ease its reform drive, including economic restructuring which has led to painful mass lay-offs.
 Website: http://anaisnin.cjb.net
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