After being plagued by more than two months of labor union strikes, MBC has taken additional disciplinary measures against strike leaders, its union said Tuesday, escalating labor-management conflict at the public broadcaster.
The union said MBC management fired labor union head Jung Young-ha and his deputy Kang Ki-woong and suspended five others for two to three months for masterminding an "illegal" walkout.
A total of 17 unionists have now been disciplined since the MBC strike began on Jan. 30.
The striking union members have demanded the resignation of company president Kim Jae-chul and personnel reforms over what they cite is biased coverage of major issues by the broadcaster.
Defining the strike as illegal, the management has ordered union members to immediately return to work.
Separately, unionized employees of KBS and YTN, a cable news channel, have been on strike since early March, demanding unbiased reportage.
