Unions strike over labor, pension reform

Union workers held rallies in major cities Friday in a general strike to protest the government’s plans to overhaul labor regulations and public servants’ pension system, despite a stern warning from authorities.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Union, one of two major labor groups, staged massive sit-in protests in Seoul and other areas. Organizers claimed about 260,000 workers participated in the strike.

At Seoul Plaza, about 8,000 protestors gathered to stage protests. They urged the government to stop labor reform policies, scrap its controversial pension reform plan and raise the minimum wage to 10,000 won ($9.20) per hour. 

The police said it dispatched about 9,500 officers to prevent potential violent clashes.

“The rally is inevitable if the government tries to push for labor reform policies and pension reform,” said the KCTU in a statement. “We also demand a raise to the minimum wage.”

The government vowed to take stern action as members of the left-leaning teachers group and unionized civil servants were participating in the protests across the country.

Ministers released a joint statement Thursday and warned that public officials who attended the protests would face severe punishment. By law, public officials are banned from taking part in collective action. The ministry said it could also press criminal charges against those who orchestrated the protests.

The Education Ministry also threatened that teachers would face punishment if they attended the rally, stressing their participation would disrupt classes.

Concerns were raised for possible disruption in public offices and schools as teachers and civil servants said they would collectively take paid leave to attend the strike. No major disruption was reported, as some teachers canceled their plans to participate in the rallies or joined the protests after classes, due to fear from the authorities’ warning.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)