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agentX
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Location: Jeolla province
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 Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:16 am Post subject: Heads up! Big Labor Rally in Seoul on Sunday! |
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If you live in Seoul (I don't) or are visiting Seoul this sunday, you might want to avoid Central Seoul. Especially if you are (or look like) an American.
Long story short- The labor unions are gonna rally for a pullout of SK troops from the Middle east, wage increases, neutralization of the Korean-US FTA, and some other stuff. Expect possibly 100K protesters and 40K cops.
Lookie here....
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Unions face legal action over strikes
The government yesterday threatened several labor groups with legal action if they go ahead with planned strikes.
Denouncing the strikes as "illegal," the heads of four ministries -- Labor, Government Administration and Home Affairs, Construction and Transportation, and Justice -- vowed firm action.
"The government plans to permit strikes and meetings that are considered to be legal and justifiable, but we will also push for all possible measures to discourage illegal strikes," the ministers said in a statement.
The ministers also pledged to develop alternative plans -- such as arresting the strikers on the spot -- if the groups proceed with the strikes.
The warning comes after unionized workers and progressive groups earlier confirmed that two strikes are being organized this month.
The progressive groups, which are planning a rally this Sunday, yesterday held a press conference at the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, in response to the government's statement.
"The government's letter is a threat to the nation and an action that goes against the people's freedom to hold rally and meetings, which is stated in the law," the groups said. "The government must withdraw their decision to take such strong actions."
About 70,000 to 200,000 members of various progressive groups, including the Democratic Labor Party and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, are expected to gather in central Seoul on Sunday for a rally despite the police ban.
The groups will oppose the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, press for improvements in the employment status of irregular workers and call for the withdrawal of Korean troops from Iraq and Lebanon.
"Launching large-scale strikes with only 40 days left ahead of the presidential race will have a negative effect on society as we're working to secure social stability," ministers said. "The strikes are also regrettable since they will affect the daily lives of ordinary people and have an impact on the economy."
Instead of strikes, the government called for "finding solutions to the problems through dialogue."
About 45,000 police officers will be deployed for the strike, they said.
The labor union of Korea Railroad Corp., the state-run railway operator, and the Korean Transport Workers' Union, have also threatened to stage a joint strike on Nov. 16. The railway workers are requesting higher wages, improved working conditions and rehiring employees who were fired as a result of restructuring or because of their involvement in illegal strikes.
After the union and the management failed to reach a settlement, the government referred the KORAIL labor dispute to an independent committee for arbitration. During the mediation period, collective action is banned and both sides have to accept the commission's compromise plan, which will be issued in mid-November.
By Cho Ji-hyun
([email protected]) |
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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Hyeon Een
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:27 am Post subject: |
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I expect 20,000 protesters and 45,000 cops. This doesn't seem serious enough to attract 200,000 or more people. I've only lived in Seoul since March, but I've seen LOTS of protests. Most are about 150 -1,500 protestors and 10,000 (literally, if you include all the buses down the side streets and backup riot police they have hidden round the corner) police. I doubt this one will be any different.
PS. The only reason I said 20,000 is because the OP said 200+thousand. Otherwise I would guess at about 2,500. If I'm not too hungover, I might head over on the bike for a look-see though. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:48 am Post subject: |
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It sounds really heavy. The pasted article about what my Korean friends talked about such as huge problems with economic policies like wages vs. the cost of living, Korean troops in Iraq, the coming big labor strike, Korea not wanting FTA out of fear it will reduce profits for Koreans, the 2 Koreas looking to become one, and American policy being inappropriate.
Anti-Americanism is a fact that is growing in strength. When the 2 Koreas join out due to the south looking to make use of it's natural resources and manpower to grow bigger, richer, and more powerful, Korea may not be so accepting of westerners despite having modernized and became rich with the help of westerners and their technological ideas. I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful who is no longer Americas ally.
This I hope does NOT happen, but it sure is looking that way.
Last edited by sojourner1 on Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:53 am; edited 2 times in total |
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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| Anyone know where precisely in central Seoul this will be taking place? City Hall area perhaps? |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:53 am Post subject: |
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| sojourner1 wrote: |
| I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful |
What the hell have you been smoking? |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
| sojourner1 wrote: |
| I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful |
What the hell have you been smoking? |
Your blunt. Did you know they are working on it and coming closer to it all the time? Slowly, but surely they will join and take on some of the qualities of the north. Of course, we would not want to acknowledge where it's going, but we know. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| sojourner1 wrote: |
| the_beaver wrote: |
| sojourner1 wrote: |
| I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful |
What the hell have you been smoking? |
Your blunt. Did you know they are working on it and coming closer to it all the time? Slowly, but surely they will join and take on some of the qualities of the north. Of course, we would not want to acknowledge where it's going, but we know. |
I'm not going to hold my breath. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:25 am Post subject: |
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| Korea, rich, and powerful just don't seem to belong to the same sentence somehow. |
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Jeju Rocks
Joined: 23 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| The South will rise again |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| I say open fire on them...live ammo. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| My guess is that the protest will be in either Gwanghwamun near the embassy or in Hyehwa. I went to Hyehwa last spring and unexpectedly walked through an anti-FTA/anti-American protest. Nothing was going to stop me from my dinner. I walked through it, not just near it, and nothing remotely bad happened to me. My dinner was great, and walked back through the same crowd on the way back. |
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PGF
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| sojourner1 wrote: |
.
Anti-Americanism is a fact that is growing in strength. |
What?
| sojourner1 wrote: |
.
When the 2 Koreas join out due to the south looking to make use of it's natural resources and manpower to grow bigger, richer, and more powerful, Korea may not be so accepting of westerners despite having modernized and became rich with the help of westerners and their technological ideas.
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What What?
| sojourner1 wrote: |
I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful who is no longer Americas ally.
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What what what
| sojourner1 wrote: |
This I hope does NOT happen, but it sure is looking that way. |
Is your name Dave and do you DJ in Seoul sometimes? |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| sojourner1 wrote: |
| the_beaver wrote: |
| sojourner1 wrote: |
| I can see a one Korea in 10 years from now that is communist, but rich and powerful |
What the hell have you been smoking? |
Your blunt. Did you know they are working on it and coming closer to it all the time? Slowly, but surely they will join and take on some of the qualities of the north. Of course, we would not want to acknowledge where it's going, but we know. |
I'm not going to hold my breath. |
Funny how for some people, it always seems to be 2002 around here. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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Funny how for some people, it always seems to be 2002 around here.
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Another example of seeing what you want to see, I'd say.
Anyway, I suspect the demonstrators will be in a festive mood. Sunday is Peppero Day, so even an aggressive demonstrator could be disarmed by handing over some pepperos. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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If you have a Canadian flag on your backpack you can join in the fun and help them burn American flags. Yeah, really let Bush have it. That Canadian flag patch will prove to everyone how "cool" you really are. Go there and have fun and make new friends.
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