Police adopt broader measures on illegal strikes

SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Police Agency said Tuesday it
has devised a more detailed criteria in determining whether to break up labor
strikes.
"The existing rules have five guidelines on mobilizing police forces in
labor-management disputes," an official from the National Police Agency said.
"But the revised guidelines broaden the area of police authority and we have
adopted nine guidelines to fit the revisions."
The new rules allow police to intervene in case of urgent requests, based on the
possibility of physical danger or heavy property damage, officials said.
Police can also exercise authority if a company owner requests a breakup of
protesters at a closed down work site, they said.
Officials said the use of authority includes not only mobilizing police forces
but also sending warnings.
Unionists at Ssangyong Motor, the country's smallest carmaker, have been staging
a sit-in since late last month to protest massive layoff plans by the company,
which was put under court receivership in February.
Critics say that the new guidelines are likely to be applied to the company,
which was forced to undergo large-scale restructuring as part of the agreement.
Company management has warned of a police raid to break up the strike,
brk@yna.co.kr
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