ITF unions unite behind Korean workers

The huge public sector strikes – the largest in 20 years – are part of a fightback against government plans that would make sackings easier and muzzle trade unions. The ITF is helping to mobilise worldwide union support, after despatching two high level missions to the country – one to show solidarity as the strikes got underway, the other to investigate and expose the victimisation of union leaders. Even as the truck strike began police arrested three union members and injured two others.

Now ITF unions are launching a third wave of support for their Korean colleagues, to coincide with the latest strikes and with a special Korean support day as part of the ITF road and rail action week, now in its 20th year.

Korean unions have asked for international union support in particular in the shape of photos, videos, messages of support and visits to South Korean embassies. You can find out how to do any or all of these by visiting koreanstrike4justice.org.

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton witnessed at firsthand the repression against Korean union leaders. He promised that ITF unions had and would set an example to the world in the solidarity they offered their Korean colleagues. He vowed that the strike and strikers would be supported to the hilt until the attacks on unions in Korea and the attempts to undermine workers’ conditions ceased.

ITF president Paddy Crumlin was on the July mission. He commented: "These mass actions are a huge rejection of the government’s plans. They represent of a struggle for workers’ rights, wages and job security. As Korean workers mobilise, so must we. They are under police attack. They need and deserve our support and the way is open to all unions and trade unionists to offer it.”

Visit koreanstrike4justice.org  and then follow the story at www.facebook.com/ITFglobal and on Twitter using the hashtag #KoreaStrike4Justice.