July 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has started a general strike on Monday for the next two weeks to protest against the labor policies of the Government of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose resignation the workers have been demanding.
Yang Kyung Soo, president of the KCTU, has indicated that the strike, which will last until July 15, seeks to gather support to get Yoon out of power and demand an increase in the minimum wage.
In this sense, he has stressed that the slogan is “to end the Yoon government”, a position that involves putting an end to “anti-worker” and “family conglomerates” policies, according to the Yonhap news agency.
In addition, the unions advocate interfering with the release into the sea of treated nuclear waste from the Fukushima plant, while demanding freedom of assembly.
The organization estimates that some 400,000 people will join the strike, although it anticipates that the collective actions “do not cause major inconveniences” to the public. Yang has accused the government of “devastating the livelihoods of South Koreans, democracy and the labor sector.”
“The president uses the authority given by the people to oppress workers and destroy their livelihoods, democracy and peace,” said a senior union official, who has also called for Yoon’s resignation.
The Police plans to deploy some 9,300 troops for the strike days and the four protests that are scheduled to take place in Seoul, the capital. “Any illegal act, such as violence, street occupation or noise, will be met with forceful measures,” the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has warned.
