KEPCO put back on alert for strike

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has been put back on alert for a strike. The labor union of KEPCO threatened Tuesday to launch a general strike starting Nov. 30 after it was reported that the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) decided to support bills concerning the privatization of the company, making it almost certain that the bills would pass through the National Assembly.

As other labor unions in the public sector also plan to join forces in the struggle against KEPCO's restructuring if the bills pass through the Assembly, public fears of massive walkouts are escalating.

In the meeting of the Assembly's Commerce, Industry and Energy Committee Tuesday, the GNP decided to approve a package of bills concerning the privatization of KEPCO, including one on the acceleration of power industry reforms.

The GNP held the meeting, presided over by the party¡¯s policy chief Mok Yo-Sang, at its headquarters in Yoido in the morning and decided to pass the bills after confirming the government's position on employment and overseas sales of the company. The committee is expected to enter full-scale deliberations on the bills from Nov. 29 and to pass them Dec. 1 before presenting them to the plenary session of the Assembly.

The KEPCO labor union consequently held a meeting of its central committee at the company's headquarters in Samsong-dong, southern Seoul, which was attended by about 100 representatives, and resolved to kick off a strike Nov. 30.

Lee Kang-Ho, secretary-general of the union, said that the labor-management agreement on carrying out negotiations faithfully until Nov. 29 was broken and the union will begin a walkout unless the government withdraws the bills on KEPCO's privatization. As a result, it is expected that the strike will be held just six days after it was narrowly averted Nov. 24.

To avoid the worst, labor, management and government had another round of talks Tuesday at the company's headquarters but failed to narrow their differences.

The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) plans to mediate the dispute by hosting another meeting of labor, management and government Wednesday. As the passage of the bills through the assembly appears inevitable, chances are high that the union will launch a strike. However, as it is reported that the union is also feeling burdened in pushing forward with the strike, which will be labeled illegal, the possibility cannot be ruled out that it will postpone the plan once again.

In preparation for a work stoppage, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy has secured 967.5 emergency personnel and strengthened security for major facilities such as control towers, power plants and substations while asking for police cooperation.

Meanwhile, the public-sector umbrella trade unions of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Federation of Transportation, Public & Social Services Workers' Unions under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), jointly held a news conference at Myongdong Cathedral Tuesday. The parties agreed that they would hold outdoor rallies if KEPCO's labor union goes on strike.

The Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Union under the control of the KCTU also said that it will hold a rally at Seoul Station at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and then march through Myongdong. The rally is feared to turn violent and result in clashes with police as many manual laborers who lost their jobs due to recent restructuring are expected to participate.

Lee Myung-Jai mjlee@donga.com