August is a time when many of you (particularly those living in the
northern hemisphere) are on vacation.

If I were the leader of a country intent on crushing an independent
trade union movement, this would be a good time to do so. The outcry
around the world will be limited. After all, it's August.

About ten days ago, the South Korean government issued arrest
warrants for the leaders of the country's trade union movement. Among
those named were the President, Vice President and General Secretary
of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), as well as
leaders of affiliated unions. The KCTU Vice President was arrested by
police and she's now being held at the Youngdeungpo Police Station.
The others are still at large. Police have encircled the union
headquarters in Seoul.

The “crime” these trade union leaders are accused of committing
is this: in early July, they called for a general strike. The South
Korean government, in defiance of universally recognized human rights
standards (including ILO conventions) has decided that this strike was
illegal.

The KCTU has asked us all to take a moment and send off a strong
message of protest to the South Korean government. LabourStart has
launched a major new online campaign to do precisely that. Please go
here now to send off your message:

 http://www.labourstart.org/kctu

If you are on Facebook, sign also up the new Cause we've created,
here:

 http://apps.facebook.com/causes/107071

Time is of the essence and we need to mobilize thousands of our
fellow trade unionists very quickly. I know that I can count on all
of you. Thank you.

Eric Lee