[Yang Kyung-soo Arrested] Union Members Demand "Release Yang Kyung-soo" Immediately After Capture... Announce Hardline Struggle

Strike Scheduled for the 20th Next Month
Nationwide Subway Union Strike Imminent
Care Workers Also Possible
Standoff Risks Economic and Social Losses
Some Predict Weakening Strike Momentum

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] "Release Yang Kyung-soo!"

On the morning of the 2nd, union members shouted this slogan as Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who was arrested 20 days after the court issued an arrest warrant, left the KCTU building in Jung-gu, Seoul. Although he was taken to the police station shortly after, the word 'release' came first from the mouths of KCTU officials. This reflects their refusal to accept judicial measures and their determination for future struggles. Chairman Yang defined it as a 'police raid,' and the KCTU described it as a 'declaration of war by the Moon Jae-in administration,' vowing to 'pay back' with a strong general strike. Despite government discouragement and public concern, the KCTU went ahead with the July 3 downtown rally. It was an illegal gathering violating quarantine guidelines. Although an arrest warrant was issued, Yang avoided arrest by staying in his office. There are criticisms that the basis for calling the warrant execution a raid or a declaration of war is weak.

The KCTU plans to escalate the intensity of a general strike involving 1.1 million union members on October 20. At a press conference on the 18th of last month, Chairman Yang said, "This general strike will be the largest since the 1987 struggle," adding, "It will be the largest gathering of various workers including those in healthcare, construction, and subway sectors." With Chairman Yang's arrest, Yoon Taek-geun, the KCTU's senior vice chairman, will act as the interim chairman according to the union's regulations. If the chairman's arrest leads to violations of quarantine guidelines and the continuation of illegal strikes and rallies, the government authorities and the KCTU will face off again in a strong confrontation. This will inevitably cause not only political instability but also economic and social losses for individual workplaces and workers.

The subway strike is particularly imminent. The Subway Union Council of the Public Transport Union under the KCTU has decided to strike against restructuring aimed at resolving deficits. Prior approval votes were passed in Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon. Except for Seoul, the decision to proceed with the strike will depend on ongoing mediation results. The subway union has expressed its intention to launch a general strike on the 14th if negotiations with the government and local governments fail. They are demanding the withdrawal of large-scale workforce restructuring and wage normalization.

If the subway strike materializes, it will be the first in five years since the 2016 general strike against the performance-based pay system. Workers in childcare centers, nursing facilities, and other care services are also likely to participate in the strike. They are calling for strengthened public care services and employment stability measures after COVID-19 and are urging labor-government negotiations. Irregular workers at the National Health Insurance Customer Center, Korea Gas Corporation, and court IT staff are in conflict with the government and employers, demanding the implementation of policies to convert irregular public sector workers to regular positions.

There is also a possibility that the KCTU's momentum for struggle may weaken. An official said, "The healthcare union withdrew from the general strike after negotiations with the government, and the HMM labor-management reached a wage agreement after overnight talks, lowering the likelihood of joining the October general strike," adding, "Public opinion is also concerned about the KCTU's repeated illegal gatherings, weakening their justification."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.