Subject: NEW ZEALAND SOLIDARITY ACTION 
   Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 07:22:20 -0600 
  From:  Maxine Gay  (by way of Scott Marshall )
     To: worldlst@rednet.org (World List for Rednet)

NZ UNIONISTS PROTEST TO KOREAN AMBASSADOR

Wellington, New Zealand, 14 January 1997   A deputation of New Zealand
trade unionists led by Trade Union Federation President Con Devitt, met
with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to New Zealand, Mr Oh
Yoon-kyung at 3.00 pm today in Wellington, New Zealand.

The meeting followed a 50 strong demonstration of trade unionists
outside the South Korean Embassy on Friday 10 January.

New Zealand trade unions have been protesting at the new labour and
security laws in Korea which have sparked an unprecedented general
strike in that country.

The Trade Union Federation was joined again by Asia Pacific Workers
Solidarity Links, and the finance sector and teacher unions, FINSEC and
PPTA.  The Service Workers Union supported the deputation as did the
Waterfront Workers Union, whose National Executive today passed a
resolution calling for the Korean Government to rescind the new labour
laws.

The deputation to the Korean Ambassador disputed last week's claim of
the Embassy that the new laws were passed to harmonise Korean labour law
with ILO and OECD standards.

"If this is true why has the International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions (ICFTU) taken a case against Korea to the ILO over these same
laws?  Why has the OECD expressed concern with the new laws and the OECD
Trade Union Advisory Committee come out completely opposed to the new
laws?"  said Con Devitt.

"The truth is more likely to be the admission made by the Korean
Ambassador today that "foreign groups in Korea such as the American
Chamber of Commerce, European Chamber of Commerce and the Japanese
Employers Association" had forced the Korean Government to adopt the
labour flexibility laws that are so strongly opposed by the Korean
workers and their unions," Mr Devitt said.

Ambassador Oh said that he was impressed by the display of solidarity of
New Zealand unions with their trade union counterparts in Korea.
However he asked for understanding of the position of the Korean
Government saying that the new laws were like Korean herbal medicine,
"they have a bitter taste to start, but were for the long term good".
Ambassador Oh promised to forward the protest and concern of New Zealand
unions to his Government in Korea.

Con Devitt rejected the herbal medicine analogy and called again for the
Korean Government to repeal the new laws.  He stated that New Zealand
unions would continue to monitor the Korean labour situation closely and
would be prepared to take further action if the matter was not resolved
and when called on by the Korean trade unions.


For further information please contact:
Maxine Gay, General Secretary, NZ Trade Union Federation
Tel: 64-4-384 8963  Fax: 64-4-384 8007
E-mail: maxine@reddfish.co.nz



NEW ZEALAND TRADE UNION ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH KOREAN WORKERS

Wellington, New Zealand, 10 January 1997.  Almost 50 New Zealand trade
unionists demonstrated outside of the South Korean Embassy in Wellington
at today as part of a world-wide show of support for the general strike
of Korean workers against new labour and security laws passed by the
Korean National Assembly on 26 December last year.

The new laws were passed in a secret early morning session without any
opposition MPs present.  The laws give much more power to employers to
dismiss workers, replace strikers and with-hold overtime pay as well as
continuing the ban on the right of teachers, bank, hospital, telecom and
other public sector workers to organise and take industrial action.  The
new laws also continue the ban on the Korean Confederation of Trade
Unions (KCTU) which is leading the strike movement.

The Wellington demonstration was organised by the New Zealand Trade
Union Federation and Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links.  In addition
three major affiliates of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the
Finance Sector Union, the Post Primary Teachers Association and the
Service Workers Union participated.

The demonstration was addressed by Con Devitt, President of NZTUF and
Robert Reid, international Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Workers
Solidarity Links.  Both speakers emphasised the need to support the
Korean workers at this crucial time and to let the Korean Government
know that the workers of the world are watching to ensure there is no
further repression of the Korean trade union movement.

Placards in the demonstration, written in both English and Korean read:
Solidarity NZ - Korean Trade Unions, Recognise the KCTU, Down with the
Kim Young-sam Government, Repeal Anti-worker Labour laws.

On being informed of the proposed demonstration the Korean Embassy
requested the presence of the New Zealand diplomatic protection police
squad who were present.

A delegation from the Embassy took five letters of protest from unions
and labour groups into the Embassy.  They were met by Ohm Song-jun,
Counsellor of the Embassy who received the letters.  Mr Ohm gave the
delegation a prepared Information Note on the revision of Korea's labour
related laws in December.

Mr Ohm stated that the new labour laws were in accord with the ILO and
OECD.  He stated that the media was exaggerating the opposition to the
laws and that they had the support of the majority of the Korean people.

However a young Korean student visiting New Zealand who just happened to
pass the demonstration stated "it is wonderful that you are supporting
the Korean people."

For further information please contact:
Maxine Gay, General Secretary, NZ Trade Union Federation
Tel:  64-4-384 8963  Fax: 64-4-384 8007
E-mail: maxine@reddfish.co.nz