INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU) ICFTU ONLINE...
Brussels, January 10 (ICFTU OnLine): At the initiative of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and its Belgian affiliate the FGTB-ABVV, a high level international trade union delegation, which also included leaders of the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) and its Belgian affiliate the CSC-ACV, visited the Korean Embassy this morning, January 10.
The seven-member trade union delegation was received by His Excellency Mr. Lee, Tae-sik, Minister of the Korean Mission to the European Union, and Mr. Oh Jae-Haek, Political Advisor to the Korean Embassy in Belgium, as well as five other diplomats. The delegation was supported by 100 Belgian trade unionists and representatives of international trade union organisations based in Brussels (the International Federation of Journalists, the textile workers' international, Education International and the graphical workers' international).
They organised a picket outside the Korean Embassy chanting slogans such as "trade union rights are human rights" and "repeal the infamous law".
Similar demonstrations were organised today, following an appeal by the ICFTU, in various cities, including Geneva, London, Madeira, The Hague, Manila, New York, Seattle and Washington D.C. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Bill Jordan (British), General Secretary of the ICFTU, strongly condemned the anti-union law adopted on December 26 last year at a "semi-clandestine" meeting of the South Korean Parliament.
In an 8-page memorandum signed by Michel Nollet, President of the FGTB-ABVV and Mr. Jordan, and submitted to the Korean Minister, the trade unions warned the Korean Government against arresting any members or leaders of the independent Korean trade union the KCTU. At the end of a 70-minute speech by the Korean Minister on the new law, Mr. Jordan compared the Korean government's position to that of an expert "who is explaining where and how efficiently fire alarms are located in the building while it is actually on fire".
The strikes that began two weeks ago and the aggressive reaction of the Korean authorities have brought the country to "a critical turning point on the path to economic development" added Mr. Jordan, who demanded "the immediate withdrawal of the law and its re-examination by Parliament in cooperation with Korean trade unions". He also rejected the accusation of Ambassador Lee, who said that the ICFTU was "under the influence of Korean groups" and stressed the fact that the Government was not only ignoring the advice of the international community but also "that of its own friends, including the only trade union centre authorised in Korea, the FKTU". Both the FKTU and the KCTU are affiliated to the ICFTU.
Mr. Emilio Gabaglio, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) informed the Ambassador of his meeting in Brussels yesterday with the current President of the European Council of Ministers, Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok. During this interview, the ETUC leader urged the European Union to take trade union views into account during the renegotiation of cooperation agreements between the EU and the Republic of Korea.
After commenting on and presenting the trade unionists with a ten-page document outlining the main views of the government, Ambassador Lee agreed to convey the views of the international trade union delegation to Korean President Kim Young-sam. The trade union views will be presented by an international delegation due in Seoul from 11 to 16 January, at the invitation of the KCTU and the FKTU. The delegation is to meet President Kim Young-Sam and his Labour Minister. For details contact ICFTU Press at ++322 224 02 12. Other OnLine news on Poptel Bulletin Board ICFTU-Online for geonet users and on the WWW at http://www.icftu.org