YTN Union Files Suit to Nullify Punishments
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The union of cable news channel YTN has filed a suit with a district court in Seoul to nullify measures taken against 33 union members protesting against the network's new chief Koo Bon-hong.
The 24-hour news network's personnel committee last week dismissed six union leaders and slapped punishment on another 27 members. The union has protested against President Lee Myung-bak's appointment of Koo as the new head, claiming Koo, an aide of Lee, will compromise the channel's political neutrality.
The unionists claimed the committee was comprised of those who had been punished for politically biased reports or those who have clashed with the union about Koo's appointment.
``The committee did not allow some of the union members to defend themselves and fabricated the causes of punishment. The causes they presented are also unclear,'' its union leader Noh Jong-myeon said at a press briefing.
They claimed the shareholders' meeting held in July to appoint Koo had legal flaws and thus he is not a rightful president. ``So, our action to oppose the unqualified head and keep fair broadcasting is justifiable and is not subject to punishment,'' Noh said.
On Oct. 6, the personnel committee decided to fire six unionists, suspend six others from duty for one to six months, cut the salary for another eight, and give disciplinary warnings to a further 13. In protest against the measures, the union held rallies to prevent Koo from entering his office.