UNISON are circulating this appeal from PSI, the international trade secretariat for the public sector
Urgent Action

PSI is calling upon all its affiliates, and particularly those representing electricity workers, to write letters of protest to the Korean government concerning the strike of electricity workers and the arrest of trade union leaders. A model letter is attached. Please send copies of any protest letter to the PSI. For more information about this strike, consult the KCTU website (www.kctu.org) or contact the Equality and Rights officer at the PSI ( psi@world-psi.org)

The Korean Electricity Power Corporation Union, which is a multi-enterprise union covering the 5 power company subsidiaries, is an affiliate of the Korean Federation of Transportation, Public and Social Services’ Workers Unions, a member of the PSI.

The union declared a strike commencing February 25th 2002 when the Central Labour Commission referred the negotiations over the collective bargaining agreement to compulsory arbitration.

The strike has met with over 90% support from the workforce and with expressions of solidarity from other trade unions and the general public, who fear that the privatization will result in unprecedented price rises.

Since then, the company has irresponsibly issued recruitment notices for 1,000 jobs arguing that the company can be run with new recruits.

On March 4th, the company issued legal writs against 47 elected national officials and 230 shop stewards. On March 10th, riot police were sent into the main Buddhist temple in Seoul to arrest trade union leaders, provoking an outcry from the religious community as well as the public.

The main cause of this dispute is the government’s proposal to privatize the electricity industry. Nearly 7,000 workers have been made redundant over the last two years as a cost-saving measure, which has put the health and safety of workers at risk and it is feared that privatization will result in the deterioration of the service and in terms and conditions of employment.



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MODEL LETTER

Dear President Kim Dae Jung,

--------------(Insert name of organisation) -is writing to you to express its deep concern over your government’s decision to send riot police to enter the Chogye temple in Seoul and arrest several leaders of the State Electricity Workers’ Union. We are requesting that these leaders be immediately released.

We are also concerned that on March 5th 2002, the 5 Chief Executive Officers of the Korea Electric Power Corporation have announced the end to negotiations with the trade union and rejected their legitimate demands for a negotiated solution to the current dispute.

The electricity company has issued dismissal letters to 47 trade union officials, filed legal suits against 230 shop stewards participating in the strike and declared all striking workers “saboteurs of the law and order system of the State.” At the same time, they has issued notice for the recruitment of up to 1,000 new employees, claiming that it will be possible to run the power companies without the striking workers.

Our organization supports the demands of the State Electricity Workers’ Union for the following:

a withdrawal of the privatization plan;
the conclusion of the negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement covering the multi-enterprise union of the Korea Electric Power Corporation;
the reinstatement of all dismissed workers.
We strongly urge your government to reconsider the proposed privatization of the electricity industry. Many studies indicate that privatisation could increase the cost of this basic service to the consumer, by as much as 50%, and that if investment in new facilities is left to private enterprise, there is a danger that power supply could not meet demand. Privatisation will require that the Korean government lend money to private companies, who will not otherwise be able to fund the investments required. In addition, the current electricity work force is below the safety limits set down by the government and is putting at risk the health and safety of the electricity work force.

We call upon your government to review its decisions, end the use of force against striking workers, and meet the union demands.

Yours sincerely,

CC to:
KCTU fax 82 2 26351134, e-mail:  inter@kctu.org
KPSU fax 82 2 4970444, e-mail:  kpsu@jinbo.net
FKTU fax 82 2 7862864, e-mail:  fktuintl@nownuri.net
ICFTU fax 32 2 2015815, e-mail:  internetpo@icftu.org
Korean Mission in your country
AP Regional Office fax 60 3 22871780, e-mail:  psiap@ppp.nasionet.net
AP sub-regional office in Tokyo fax 81 3 52755464, e-mail:  satok@jichiro.gr.jp  chen@jichiro.gr.jp