Democratic Labor Union Launches General Strike... Confrontation Between Strong Forces Inevitable

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a nationwide workers' rally on the afternoon of the 3rd in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, shouting slogans to demand the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act and the expansion of the cargo safety freight rate system.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will launch a general strike to support the Cargo Solidarity Union's nationwide strike. Following the Cargo Union, the government has indicated a strong response to the KCTU's general strike as well, making a head-to-head confrontation inevitable.

On the 6th, the KCTU announced that it will hold general strike and all-out struggle rallies at 15 key locations nationwide, including Seoul and Uiwang City in Gyeonggi Province, around 2 p.m. On that day, about 5,000 KCTU members are expected to gather in Uiwang City alone. The KCTU also stated that industrial unions such as the Construction Union will participate in the general strike.

The KCTU explained, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration first issued an unconstitutional work commencement order, and now it is even mobilizing the Fair Trade Commission to suppress the legitimate struggle of the Cargo Solidarity Union. The level of irrational repression has gone too far. This crackdown targets the KCTU, which is a resistance force against the current government’s labor reforms disguised as reform. A broad consensus has been formed that this must be stopped through a general labor struggle."

However, there are also expectations that fewer members will join the KCTU general strike than anticipated, as only workplaces with the right to strike will participate. Members who do not directly participate in the general strike and all-out struggle will support through early leave, education, and other means, but it will be difficult to inflict as much damage as the Cargo Solidarity Union. Additionally, other industrial unions such as the Seoul Transportation Corporation Union and the National Railroad Union have already concluded negotiations with management and will not participate in the strike.

Meanwhile, the government is considering additional work commencement orders, raising concerns about a head-to-head confrontation. On the previous day, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said at a meeting with port operators and transport companies held at Busan New Port, "We will not tolerate illegal acts and will ensure that wrong practices are never repeated." In response, the Cargo Solidarity Union announced that it will file a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court on the same day, seeking to cancel the government’s work commencement order against Minister Won. The plaintiff is Cargo Solidarity Union member A, who received a photo of the work commencement order via text message.

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