By Lee Kyung-min
The Hyundai Motor union Wednesday openly criticized the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), an umbrella union in which the former is a major stakeholder, for the latter’s plan to launch a nationwide strike on Friday.
The KCTU, the second largest umbrella union here with 670,000 members, has planned the strike to protest against what it called the government’s “business-friendly” approach in handling key labor issues.
The Hyundai Motor union charged that the KCTU is just resorting to strike action without due consideration of the political situation.
“The KCTU is overstretched in its attempt to act out without due consideration,” the union said in a statement. “It’s absurd to go ahead with the plan at the moment with the nation in confusion over the latest full-fledged corruption allegations regarding the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong and people of the highest ranks in this country.
“At the moment, the government is not pushing for a reform plan to the extent that leaves the labor sector with no choice but to engage in an aggressive measure. The KCTU is only losing ground in not withdrawing the strike plan,” it added.
The union’s action is evidence of a growing feud among unions over the planned strike.
The criticism is also directed at the KCTU Head Han Sang-gyun who said in February that an all-out strike is inevitable unless President Park Geun-hye meets with him in one-on-one session.
“Han’s announcement is an obvious bluff. If the planned strike has to do with his ego, he all the more needs to reconsider it,” the union said.
Meanwhile, non-regular workers of the Hyundai Motor union Tuesday voted against launching an in-company strike.
Out of some 800 members, only 46 percent voted for the strike, and out of the rest 54 percent, abstentions outnumbered those voted against it.
Hyundai Motor Union Head Lee Kyung-hoon is known for his less radical approach in having the needs of members met, according to labor expert sources.
Rather than pushing for strikes, he looks for practical solutions unlike most of the union heads, sources added.