7 January 1996
WFTU CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN SUPPORT OF
WORKERS' STRIKES IN SOUTH KOREA AGAINST ATTACKS ON  TRADE UNION RIGHTS

        A general strike is being observed in South Korea in protest against
the labour law amendments which were bulldozed through parliament by the
ruling party which grossly violate basic trade union rights and international
labour standards.

        These amendments which undermine job security and will set off a spate
of layoffs, retrenchment and dismissals, along with the amendment to the
National Security Planning Agency Act, were rushed through parliament on 26
December by 154 members belonging to the ruling party who were specially
brought in four buses, in a clandestine manner, keeping out parliament
members
belonging to the Opposition parties.  Eleven such amendments were adopted in
this fashion in seven minutes.

        The new laws seek to extend the ban on union pluralism at the national
and industrial federation level until 31.12.1999.  This signifies the
continued ban on the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and its affiliates
which have millions of members.

        In order to suppress the legitimate protest actions of the workers and
unions, the South Korean authorities have begun to prosecute the union
leaders.

        Strongly condemning these attacks on basic trade union rights by the
government acting in league with Big Business employers in South Korea, the
WFTU calls upon trade unions in all countries to express active solidarity
with the working people and their trade union organisations and support the
demand for:

        - Repeal all amendments to laws rushed through parliament by the
ruling party; which allows Korean companies to more easily dismiss workers,
replace striking workers and destroy job security;

        - Repeal  the amendment of the National Security Planning Agency Act
which gravely violates basic human rights, ban people's freedom and democracy
and prevent people's communication for Korean reunification.

        - Lift the ban on trade union pluralism and accord legal recognition
to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and its affiliates.

        - Stop all prosecutions against union leaders and activists.

        (Protest letters may be sent to: Mr Kim Young Sam, President of the
Republic of Korea, The Blue House, 1 Sejong-Ro, Jongro-ku, Seoul 110050, -
{fax No.(82 2) 855-1913)}.

Subject: WFTU ASKS ILO TO INTERVENE
   Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 15:52:08 -0600 
  From:  wftu@login.cz (by way of Scott Marshall )
     To:  worldlst@rednet.org (World List for Rednet)

WFTU ASKS FOR ILO INTERVENTION TO STOP REPRESSION ON STRIKING WORKERS IN
SOUTH KOREA AND FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

     In a communication to Mr Michel Hansenne, Director General of the
International Labour Office, the WFTU states:

     "Despite the unanimous protests and opposition of the trade union
movement in South Korea and all the international and regional trade union
organisations, the Government of the Republic of Korea is persisting to
impose the illegal and arbitrary measures to deprive workers and unions of 
their basic rights.

    "The authorities in Seoul have now arrested a large number of trade
union leaders and activists and are stepping up police repression against 
the working people who are on strike.

    "Considering all these measures as gross violations of international
labour standards and basic human rights, the WFTU urges the ILO to
effectively intervene and ensure that the Government in Seoul withdraws the 
recent amendments to labour laws, releases all those arrested, cancels all
prosecutions against trade unionists and reaches a negotiated settlement
with the trade union centres which are leading the protest actions."

Subject: SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKES IN SOUTH KOREA 
   Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 18:27:40 -0600 
  From:  wftu@login.cz (by way of Scott Marshall )
    To:  worldlst@rednet.org (World List for Rednet)

WFTU PROTESTS AGAINST ARREST OF TRADE UNION LEADERS IN SOUTH KOREA

     The World Federation of Trade Unions has sent the following protest to
Mr Kim Young-sam,  President of the Republic of Korea,  Seoul:

    "Further to our communication of 7 January, on behalf of our affiliates
all over the world, we strongly protest against the arrest of the South
Korean trade union leaders and against the reported plans of the authorities 
to suppress the legitimate struggle of the working people for their trade 
union and human rights.

     "Considering these repressive measures as grave violations of
international labour standards and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the WFTU again calls upon your government to stop the repression, release all
the arrested trade unionists and negotiate with the national trade union
centres to reach a settlement on all disputed issues."

        Copy of the protest was also hand delivered to the South Korean
embassy in Prague.



PROTEST AGAINST REPRESSION IN SOUTH KOREA
19 Aug 1998

    The WFTU has sent the following fax message to Mr Kim Dae-jung,
President of South Korea:

   "The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)  expresses its grave concern
and strong protest at the massive police interference and massing of troops
against the strike of workers at the Hyundai Motor Company, in protest
against mass dismissals, including dismissals of union officials as a
measure of anti-trade union victimisation, the arrests and detention of
trade unionists and other repressive measures. 

   "Considering these anti-labour activities as gross violations of ILO
Conventions 87 and 98, the WFTU demands that the employers and government
respect international labour standards, abide by tripartite agreements, and
that the government take steps to release all arrested trade union leaders,
cancel all repressive measures and negotiate with the Korean Metal  Workers
Union to reach a settlement on workers' demands."