1. Political tension within FKTU
Within the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), which will support the Democratic United Party (DUP) in the presidential election this year, pro-DUP affiliates such as the Federation of Korean Chemical Workers’ Unions (FKCU) are concerned that other reluctant DUP supporters, like the Federation of Korean Taxi Transport Workers’ Unions (KTU) may engage in political activities that run counter to the FKTU’s political line.
So far, several entities have declared their support for the DUP’s presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, including the Labor Ministry-related Organization’s Trade Union (8 November), FKTU Kyungnam Regional Office (12 November), the Federation of Korean Chemical Workers’ Unions (13 November), and the Korean Financial Industry Union (19 November).
Meanwhile, only 15,000 workers reportedly joined the FKTU ‘2012 National Workers’ Rally’ on 17 November.
2. KCTU communicates its demands to the presidential candidates before its new leadership elections in December
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference on 19 November, where it announced its demands and raised questions on major labor issues to the main presidential candidates. Ahead of the presidential election, the KCTU is trying to politicize its demands through big rallies such as ‘Joint struggle for in-house subcontract workers at Hyundai Motor Company’ (17 November), and ‘Nationwide strike for Ssangyong Motor workers’ (24 November). Plans also exist for a ‘Nationwide Workers Rally’ on 8 December.
However, the KCTU’s political activities are not likely to go smoothly due to its new leadership election slated for 11 December.
[Table 1] KCTU Demands for Presidential Candidates
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– Prohibit discrimination against non-regular workers and grant them regular employment
– Create decent jobs and reduce actual working hours
– Increase minimum wage and protect vulnerable groups (women, employees at SMEs, immigrants and the disabled)
– Prohibit dismissals for redundancy and strengthen job security
– Create industrial accident-free workplaces
– Nullify the Korea-US FTA and strengthen the financial regulatory system
– Allow employees to actively participate in management
– Ensure 5 basic social welfare rights (medical care, education, post-retirement assistance, poverty eradication, housing)
– Oppose privatization of the public sector and improve public services
– Abolish the National Security Law and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula
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