By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the country's two largest umbrella labor groups, staged a two-hour walkout at hundreds of workplaces nationwide Wednesday, calling for the renegotiation of the Seoul-Washington beef import deal.
The 150,000-strong Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) joined in the move, and workers at Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors downed tools causing 42 billion won in lost production, according to the two automakers.
Some 120,000 workers joined in the industrial action nationwide, the KCTU said.
The government called the strike illegal, but the Hyundai union disagreed. ``Our strike is legitimate because more than half of our members voted for it,'' a Hyundai Motor union leader said, adding that more than 72 percent of Hyundai's 44,757 workers backed the strike.
The confederation plans to hold candlelit vigils against American beef imports today at 16 locations nationwide. More than 100,000 members are expected to gather during the weekend to protest in downtown Seoul.
The KCTU said more than 136,000 members from the KMWU, alongside unionists from chemical fabric and construction companies would participate in the demonstration.
Union leader Lee Sok-haeng said the action would eventually affect production at workplaces including automobile factories.
Prosecutors have vowed to crack down on key organizers of the strike and will summon Hyundai Motors' union leaders should they continue to strike.
Meanwhile, unions at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology and Ssangyong Motor, voted against joining the strike, saying they saw little justification for striking over beef imports.