YTN Fires Unionists Opposing New Head
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Cable news channel YTN has fired six of its union leaders and slapped punitive measures on another 27 for protesting against the network's new head. In response, the union pledged full-scale protests, including a strike.
YTN dismissed six union leaders, including former and incumbent union chiefs, at a personnel committee meeting held at the network building in downtown Seoul late Monday.
Another six union members were suspended from duty for one to six months, while another eight will have their salaries cut for one to three months. Another 13 received disciplinary warnings.
The punitive measures come amid the union's protest against President Lee Myung-bak's appointment of Koo Bon-hong as the new head of the round-the-clock news channel in July. Koo helped Lee during his presidential campaign.
Union members have attempted to prevent Koo from coming to the office and refused to accept recent job transfers, claiming that the President's aide will significantly compromise the news channel's political neutrality.
Following the punitive actions, the union decided to stage all-out protests. ``For the time being, we will hold rallies to prevent Koo from entering his office, but will take stronger steps if the management does not scrap the punitive measures. A walkout will be among the options,'' a union member said.
The union will also apply to the personnel committee for a review of the punishments as well as ask the local labor relations commission to help the dismissed unionists get their jobs back.
The National Union of Mediaworkers denounced the punishments, saying they were Koo's response to union members struggling to secure fair news. ``We regard it as the Lee government's declaration of war against the media as a whole. We will struggle to oust Lee,'' the union said in a statement.
The major opposition Democratic Party also claimed the punishments reflect the Lee administration's attempt to take control of the media.