Gov`t warns public servants` unions not to join umbrella labor group

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- The government voiced opposition Sunday to moves by
public servants' unions to join an umbrella labor group, saying that doing so
would violate their obligation to stay politically neutral.
Three government employee unions -- Korean Government Employees' Union, the
Korean Democracy Government Employees' Union and the Court Government Employees'
Union -- plan to vote this week on whether to merge into a single union and to
join the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), considered more militant of
the country's two umbrella unions.
The public servants' unions can join the KCTU if approved by more than half of
their members, but a merger requires approval by two-thirds of the valid votes.
The vote is scheduled for Monday to Tuesday.
"Should the public workers' union join the KCTU, they would be participating in
the KCTU's illegal and political demonstrations in the future," the government
said in a statement after a ministerial meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han
Seung-soo.
"This violates law that prohibits them from collective and political activities,"
it said.
The prime minister told the meeting that the government is "extremely concerned"
at such moves by public servants.
A merger by the three unions would create a giant labor group of some 115,000
members. The KCTU currently claims nearly 750,000 members.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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