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----- Original Message -----
From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 12:16 AM
Subject: [downwithcapitalism] Class struggle in S. Korea - update
CNN. Aired 12 June 2001 - 08:30:00 ET. Talks Between Striking Union
Workers and Government Negotiators Fail to Resolve Massive Strike in
South Korea.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND
MAY BE UPDATED.
MICHELLE HAN, CNN ANCHOR: Talks between striking union workers and
government negotiators have failed to resolve a massive strike in South
Korea.
A walkout early Tuesday morning by the Korean Confederation of Trade
unions, which includes pilots, has all but crippled Korean air lines
flights.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae explains why workers are demanding change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thousands of workers
joining a nationwide strike gathered in downtown Seoul to protest the
government's corporate reforms. The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions
says more than 50,000 workers in 125 workplaces are taking part in the
general strike. The government says, however, the number of striking
workers is much lower.
The umbrella union group is demanding the end to the government's
corporate restructuring efforts, which they claim are leading to massive
layoffs. As a part of the general strike, unionized workers of South
Korea's two national carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, walked
off the job Tuesday, severely disrupting international and domestic
flights.
Korean Air said about 80 percent of its fleet was grounded. Asiana's
international flights were operating normally, but more than half of its
domestic flights were canceled.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I am on my way home after
receiving medical treatment here in Seoul. But I have to wait here in
the airport. It's really hard to sit here and wait in this kind of
physical condition.
JIE-AE: The strike is expected to intensify Wednesday as workers at
general hospitals are expected to join in. The government has denounced
the strike as illegal and detrimental to the country's economy, and is
taking steps to arrest the strike leaders. But union leaders are vowing
to keep up the pressure until the government concedes to their demands.
Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[Now, notice what ended up on the editing floor...]
HAN: The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions claims that 55,000 workers
he ended the wall to strike, a number disputed by the Korean government.
The government says the strikes are illegal as they have not gone
through the proper arbitration channels.
Joining me now is Park Ha Soon, director for external relations from the
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
Mr. Soon, the government said the strikes are illegal and it will arrest
leaders of the Korean Air pilots union. What will your members do then?
PARK HA SOON, KOREAN CONFED. OF TRADE UNIONS: Actually sine of the
strikes are illegal, but in Korea, it's difficult to strike legally. And
the airliners are demanding the pay raise and the structural adjustment
and sort of thing.
HAN: But your union members are not happy with the government's policy
of economic reforms. Surely, if the reforms do not go through, in the
long term, more Koreans will suffer?
PARK HA SOON: I don't think so. The objective of the government policy
are for the multinationals and the big gerbils; it's not nor for the
workers, and we are against it.
HAN: How long do you think the strike can hold on for?
PARK HA SOON: I think 25 days more.
END
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