ITF – Korean Police Attack KCTU Headquarters

23 December 2013

Urgent: Korean police attack KCTU headquarters

Dear friends,

Many affiliates have shown their solidarity to the KRWU strike including through protests at local Korean embassies on December 10. The ITF and the KRWU are very grateful for this support.

But the situation in Korea is deteriorating rapidly. This weekend, Korean police attacked the headquarters of the national trade union centre KCTU with tear gas, and more than 100 protestors were detained yesterday as the police sought to arrest top union officials.

We need your continued support to stop the government’s growing repression – not only against the striking rail workers, but against the whole democratic labour movement.

Take action and support the right to strike:

1. Protest at your local Korean consulate or embassy by 4 January to voice your opposition to the KCTU police raid, the arrest warrants for KRWU leaders, and other acts of repression.

Check out what happened on our 10 December action day here.  Get further info on the Korean railway workers’ right to strike Facebook page >>

Send us your reports and pictures at inland.transport@itf.org.uk or upload them to our Facebook page

2. Supporters of the strike in Korea have been using this graphic to tell the Korean government why they are ‘not fine’ about the railway workers’ treatment. The Korean words at the top of the graphic read ‘I am not fine’ – and in Korea, activists are filling out the form with things like ‘Stop – arresting union members’, ‘Stop – rail privatisation’.

Join them – print this graphic and tell the Korean government what you want them to stop doing.

Send the Korean government and our brothers and sisters in Korea photos of your members with their signs or upload them to our Facebook page.

Yours, in solidarity,

Stephen Cotton

Acting General Secretary

 

Check out the Korean railway workers’ right to strike Facebook page >>

You can get updates and campaign material at the ITF campaign page >>