The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU) on February 5 came up with its organizational direction for an earlier-than-scheduled presidential election this year "to build an equal society where labor is respected through ending the unequal society dominated by greedy conglomerates".
KCTU decided to actively participate in the upcoming presidential election, as political parties including opposition parties do not fully reflect what the people have called for in a series of candlelight massive rallies in protest of the political corruption scandal implicating President Park Geun-hye and her long time friend Choi Soon-sil.
KCTU unveiled a report on "Issue priorities and demands for 2017 presidential election" which contained 5 issue priorities and 10 demands to eradicate the social evils of the Park Geun-hye government and to steer for a new Korean society.
Having analyzed that the anticipated presidential election will be taking place in the volatile political environment due to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and in the economic crisis that the structural imbalances are deepening, KCTU diagnosed that what the people want is not merely the change of the government but the comprehensive transition of social reforms to expand the basic rights of the workers and people.
Five issue priorities are 1) full termination of the collusion system between the Park Geun-hye government and conglomerates, 2) abolition of irregular forms of employment and transfer to and creation of decent jobs, 3) guarantee of the right to form and join trade unions for all workers, 4) substantial expansion of the universal coverage of public services and social safety nets, 5) construction of a democratic and peaceful society.
Among ten demands, action plans were also announced for, for example, the national minimum wage of 10,000 won(US$8.80) per hour, increase of the unionization rate to 30%, and introduction of 1,800 yearly working hours ceiling system.
The issue priorities and demands for a possible early presidential election will be deliberated for the final adoption by the union representatives who will participate in the annual congress slated for on February 7.
reported by Je Jeong-nam
translated by Kim Sung-jin