Kumho locks Korean workers out

ERJ staff report (DS)

Seoul, Korea -- Management has locked workers out of tyre plants in Korea, after workers staged a one-day strike, according to the Inrternational union organisation, ICEM.

ICEM said, "Labour strife broke out late last week at Kumho tyre plants Korea. Members of the Kumho Tyre Workers' Union, affiliated to the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), staged a one-day warning strike on 25 March at two of three Kumho plants in Korea - Gwungju and Gokseong. " It continued, "Management immediately retaliated that day and on 26 March with a lockout. When some 3,400 workers at the two plants in southwestern Korea tried to return to their jobs, Kumho managers insisted they sign individual agreements pledging not to strike. "

The KMWU branch unit issued a statement calling on Kumho to negotiate over a set of disputed issues, and said, “The company forced union workers to confirm that they would not take part in (further) strikes.” The Kumho Tyre Workers' Union is strongly encouraging workers not to sign the statement and not to return to work while the lockout is in force.

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Press release from ICEM