SOUTH KOREA: Thousands of South Korean workers go on strike targetting cargo transport, exports and construction

Record ID: 338812

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Thousands of South Korean workers go on strike targetting cargo transport, exports and construction
  • Date: 16th June 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PROTEST LEADER PAIK SEOK-KEUN SAYING: "We demand the government should lower fuel prices under a proper policy. We are fighting to guarantee our own existence."
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVA69KRVXWMEXJL6PJDNAXLAOPQX
  • Story Text: South Korea's construction workers are on a general strike hot off the heels of a truckers strike. They are protesting rising fuel prices which heavily hit cargo transport and exports.
    Thousands of South Korean construction workers staged a protest rally on Monday (June 16) in Seoul.
    About 10,000 protesters gathered at a park and chanted slogans and waved banners declaring "We'd rather die" in protest at rising fuel prices. "We are fighting to guarantee our own existence," said protest leader Paik Seok-keun.
    The workers are pressing for a comprehensive government approach to lower the cost of fuel as well as raise salaries.
    They join thousands of truckers who walked off the job last week, crippling the export-dependent country's ports.
    More than 18,000 operators of construction machinery are also angry over policies of President Lee Myung-bak. He is grappling with massive street protests that initially called for the repeal of a U.S. beef import deal but broadened to attack a range of his policies The militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is to announce the results of its all-but-certain vote to go on strike later on Monday.
    The strikes have so far cost the country $3.5 billion U.S. dollars, according to the commerce ministry.
    Unionised truckers represent only a small portion of the country's drivers but play a key role in moving goods in and out of ports. About 14,000 walked off the job on Friday (June 13) after talks on higher pay and cheaper diesel broke down.
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