South Korean Government should negotiate with workers, not attack them, says TUC

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber today wrote to the South Korean Ambassador to the UK, urging his government to promote negotiations with striking Korean workers occupying the Ssangyong Motor plant, instead of attacking and starving them out.

30 July 2009

Dear Ambassador Cho,

Police violence against striking Korean workers

The TUC is extremely concerned about the ongoing police attacks against striking workers in the Ssangyong Motor Pyeongtaek plant in South Korean. I urge your government to stop these human rights abuses and instead facilitate peaceful dialogue to resolve the dispute.

As you may be aware soon 800 workers from the Korean Metal Workers' Union have been on strike in their factory plant for over 70 days. We are deeply concerned about the authorities blocking their access to water, food, medicine and medical treatment. Further, since 22 July some 3,000 riot police and around 30 vehicles including water cannons, ladder trucks and helicopters have been used to surround the factory. Starving and attacking these workers are serious human rights abuses.

We urge the Korean government to stop this conduct and instead start promoting sensible dialogue to resolve the dispute.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Barber

General Secretary