KCTU Must Stop Political Strikes

Arguing for the resignation of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has paralyzed businesses and streets over the past two weeks. At the KCTU’s direction, the Hyundai Motor union went on strike, and parts suppliers also halted factory operations as a result. KCTU forces holding rallies in downtown Seoul also occupied roads and even assaulted police officers.

Industrial unions such as the Health and Medical Workers’ Union, office and finance unions, and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union were mobilized in large numbers for the political strike. The Construction Workers’ Union has also declared that it will continue its struggle against the government in the second half of the year by holding simultaneous rallies in regional areas. Regardless of any connection to individual workplaces, the KCTU is continuing illegal strikes for political purposes as if mobilizing troops.

The KCTU began political struggle from the early days of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Having gained much under Democratic Party administrations, it maintained a favorable attitude, but toward this administration it has steadily intensified the level of confrontation. Declaring that it would wage an all-out fight against the administration, it repeatedly carried out illegal strikes. In other words, it is continuing political strikes with the goal of neutralizing the government.

Even while engaging in illegal strikes, the KCTU shows no sign of correcting itself. Rather than reflecting on or expressing remorse for its illegal acts, it raises its voice ever louder only with political slogans and struggle. Why is the KCTU trying to undermine the peace and order of a democratic society by using illegal strikes as a means? Because it has itself placed ideological political struggle above the role of a labor union.

It is profoundly wrong for a labor union to seek to neutralize political power through illegal acts and to play a role in creating a new political order. Denying a government elected by the people is something that cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.

Can the KCTU, which habitually engages in struggle for political purposes, really be called a labor union? In fact, the KCTU itself acknowledges that it is an organization aimed at political activity, and it has continued such activity since its founding. It is in effect operating as a political organization and pursuing power like a political party.

In pursuit of political power, the KCTU has long used both labor unions and political parties. The Democratic Labor Party was even founded on the basis of the KCTU’s organizational resolution. Since then, the KCTU has made use of various political parties and is now exerting influence even over today’s Democratic Party.

Under the Constitution, labor unions are granted “privileges” not given to other citizens. These privileges were created to protect workers’ rights and interests. But the KCTU is abusing them for its own political power. This clearly threatens the political order of a democratic society.

It is extremely serious that it is going beyond union privileges and even making use of illegal acts. Going beyond abusing the law to using illegal acts as a means of struggle undermines the rule of law in society. This is evidence that the ideology the KCTU pursues is not directed toward a free society.

Even now, the KCTU must abandon its political slogan of overthrowing the administration and faithfully fulfill the basic role of a labor union. To do so, it must properly revise the goals of its activities and make an effort to correct its misguided methods of struggle.

Sung-no Choi, President of the Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

---

Original title: 민주노총, 정치파업 멈춰야

Author: Sung-no Choi

Date: 2023-07-17

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=press&idx=25887