New union head vows to win public support, undeterred by gov't ban

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The newly-elected chief of a consolidated union of
public workers said Thursday the union will go ahead with its formal launch next
month despite a government ban and vowed to earn public support for its
activities.
Yang Sung-yun, 46, was elected Wednesday as the head of the Korean Government
Employees' Union (KGEU) with 93 percent approval by its members in a two-day
ballot.
He will lead the union formed through a merger of three separate unions
representing government workers.
The merger, as well as a decision in September to join the militant Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), went against the government's position that
such moves constitute political activity by public workers, which is banned by
law.
"The government has continuously tried to deter public workers' moves to pursue a
united and systematic organization, but we will not be discouraged," Yang said at
a news conference in Seoul. "We urge the government to stop the irrational
suppression and start rational dialogue to reach an agreement."
The government said Thursday it has asked related agencies to reprimand 29
employees for engaging in union activities in September's vote during workhours.
It warned last month that it would not recognize KGEU as a legitimate entity,
saying the union disobeyed repeated orders to remove dismissed workers from its
membership.
KGEU is slated to officially launch in mid-December with an estimated membership
of 160,000 workers.
"We have tried to stay in touch with the people through our activities but fell
short of that goal," Yang said. "We will be reborn as a union that provides
alternatives to faulty government policies and become a source of hope for the
people."
Last week, unionized civil servants from the Environment Ministry voted against
joining the KGEU while also moving to sever ties with the KCTU, the first among
the central government unions to do so.
KGEU said it will hold a massive rally after electing senior members later this
month.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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