By Park Si-soo
Staff reporter
A group of KBS newsreaders joined the the company's trade union's strike Wednesday, putting extra pressure on management over disputes on collective bargaining.
A total of 17 newscasters, including popular figures Kim Yoon-ji and Chung Sei-jin, joined the walkout that started on July 1.
Unionized broadcasters said they will continue to strike until the management signs a collective bargaining agreement.
The participation of newsreaders is expected to further disrupt the news programs of the nation's largest broadcaster.
"We are late in taking part in this strike. But we decided to do so to help restore public confidence in KBS," they said in a statement.
The management has warned that the walkout is illegal so all participants will consequently be disciplined.
The fact that popular newsreaders are joining in the collective action is meaningful in that some of them enjoy a rock-star status, exerting greater impact on media-conscious people, especially the younger generation.
"We had avoided joining the move after taking into account the tough reality facing some members of our division. But we don't want to be seen as union members ignoring the ordeal of our peers any longer," they said in the statement.
They also demanded that the management step up to the negotiation table.
"The ball is now in the court of the management. The only way to bring us back to the newsrooms will be if management accepts our demands that it sign the collective agreement," it said.
Not to be bullied, the management has said that it will strictly apply corporate articles against those who stage what it calls an unlawful strike.