First Collective Action Against Lee Government...KCTU Full Strike

[Financial News] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is launching its first large-scale collective action against the Lee Jae-myung government. They plan to officially demand a shift in the national policy direction and labor-government dialogue, defining the labor policies of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration as an 'anti-labor legacy.'

KCTU will hold a general strike rally at 3 PM on the 16th in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Industrial unions such as the Metal Workers' Union, Service Federation, and Democratic General Federation will join the main rally after holding their respective preliminary rallies. KCTU predicts that about 10,000 people in the metropolitan area and a total of 30,000 people nationwide will participate in the strike rally.

General strike rallies will also be held simultaneously in 12 regions, including Seoul, Chungbuk, Sejong-Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Gangwon, and Jeju. KCTU plans to continue with the '7·19 General Strike and All-out Struggle March' on July 19 at 3 PM on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The core demand of the general strike is the amendment of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, known as the 'Yellow Envelope Act,' for its swift passage. KCTU argues that the Lee Jae-myung government should abolish the anti-labor policies of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and restructure labor policies to guarantee the rights of special employment and platform workers.

The Delivery Platform Union of the Service Federation plans to hold a separate rally in front of the Presidential Office and then march to Yeouido on motorcycles. The Metal Workers' Union will join the general strike, demanding social dialogue during the industrial transition process.

KCTU states, "This is a political decision for the rights of all workers," and demands, "The Lee Jae-myung government should no longer evade and must immediately respond to labor-government negotiations." At a press conference held on the 2nd, they also voiced, "Now is the time for real labor reform."

Currently, the Health and Medical Union is conducting a vote on whether to strike, and if the result is in favor, they plan to go on strike from 6 AM on the 24th. If the strike proceeds, health and medical union members will gather in Seoul for a general strike rally from the 24th to the 26th, and on the 26th, they will hold a concentrated rally at Seoul Station Square, including a general strike struggle at the Korean Red Cross headquarters branch.

The general strike is the first nationwide large-scale action officially conducted by KCTU since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government. Depending on the government's response, the direction and tension level of future labor-government relations could change significantly.

jjw@fnnews.com Jung Ji-woo Reporter