Labour News Network

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions holds emergency delegates meeting – plans next steps in impeachment fight

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held an emergency outdoor delegates meeting in central Seoul today (April 3), just one day before the Constitutional Court announces its verdict on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.

We’re absolutely convinced the Court will unanimously vote to remove Yoon from office! But in the virtually impossible scenario that the impeachment is rejected, we’ve pledged to launch full-scale resistance!

Our plan adopted:

– Protest rally tomorrow evening (April 4)

– Nationwide resistance with citizens on April 5

– Complete general strike across all unions on April 7

LabourStart Report for Radio Labour Canada 28-03-2025

This week the top stories sections on our Canadian French- and English-language pages included stories like a peek at the anti-union lobby groups backing and advising the Tory election campaign, the struggle against the privatization of Hydro Quebec, the AFL’s Alberta-wide solidarity pact as unions there gear up to take on the UCP government in the aftermath of CUPE’s victory in the education sector, and the launch of the CLC’s “Building a Better Future for Working People” platform as the federal election kicked-off.

We also carried the CFNU’s call for the federal parties to address healthcare workers safety and Unifor’s reaction to yet another layer of tariffs the USian government will be applying to the auto sector.

But my favourite item, among our Canadian stories at least, was about the Boilermakers’ decision to endorse the federal Tories. But then again, I have an odd sense of humour. So read what you will into my use of the word ‘favourite’. And into that decision.

On our Working Women news page you’ll find stories from Canada and from around the globe in 9 languages.

Stories like the long and unbelievably, the still ongoing struggle of healthcare workers in Quebec for pay equity, and the opening of registration for the Summer Institute for Union Women. The Institute is unique, offering a series of workshops across BC and some states in the western USA, that bring together women from different workplaces and unions. It focusses on building organizing and leadership skills and, most importantly, supportive networks.

And among the Canadian items appearing on our health and safety page and newswire this week was coverage of the calls from CUPE and library management for the government of Saskatchewan to stop relying on public libraries to do the job of effective addiction supports. The appeal came after two Saskatoon libraries had to be closed after workers there were subjected to attacks by library users.

A couple of provinces over the same issue in a different but also public-facing workplace. The BCNU was, yet again, raising the alarm after a nurse at a large hospital was strangled into unconsciousness.

Take a look at the international stories on our health and safety page and you’ll see that levels of violence directed at workers whose jobs bring them into contact with the public are spiking globally.

Punch Nazis, not library workers.

LabourStart’s Photo of the Week isn’t often Canadian but as a Canadian is our photo editor and as that Canadian is me, you all get to hear about our Photo of the Week in each episode.

This week we carried a photo of a Ghanaian investigative journalist who was murdered because of the work he did. That was years ago and his union, the Ghana Journalists Association, had to work hard in order to get the police to investigate. Last week they celebrated a victory of sorts when a suspect was arrested and charged.

Impunity in the murders of or assaults on journalists investigating the powerful is something the IFJ, the global union federation for media workers, has been fighting for decades. And despite important victories like this one, that struggle continues.

Labour’s history is what our current struggles are built on and this week we marked the anniversaries of these events:

This week in 2006 an accounting instructor died from injuries received on the picket line at Centennial College in Toronto during a province-wide strike. John Stammers, 62, was a member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

And in 1912 thousands of workers started to walk out of railway construction camps on the Fraser River in British Columbia in a strike led by the Industrial Workers of the World. When Joe Hill visits the strikers he writes a ditty for the Wobbly Song Book.

There are lots more Canadian labour history items like this to be found at the bottom of our Canadian news pages. Look for them and be inspired.

LabourStart hosts online solidarity actions at the request of unions around the world. This week we’d like to highlight urgent appeals for online solidarity with trade union activists in New York City who are fighting union-busting by a cinema chain and another appeal for our solidarity by trade unionists facing jail and worse in Belarus.

And this week we have some great news for you as our campaign to force the release of a Turkish trade unionist awaiting trial on trumped-up, a term that is taking on new meaning these days, charges was released from prison. His union credits our online action for contributing to the decision to release him on bail and asked us to thank all the supporters around the world who sent a solidarity message.

So: thanks!

If you can spare just a few seconds you can do your part in struggles like these by sending a solidarity or protest message.

Look for details on our site.

Is your dream job a staff position with a union? On our main page is a link to our jobs listings page where you’ll see openings at unions around the globe. If you’re looking for work with a Canadian union or perhaps one of the global union federations be sure and check it out.

Before i go, a quick shout out to us. You and me and all Canadian workers. The tariffs hit next week it seems. This is Derek Blackadder from LabourStart reporting for RadioLabour.

Layoffs spreading in B.C. post-secondary system

News release:

The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) is sounding the alarm as layoffs of faculty members have started to ripple out across the province with reductions of up to 10% of the workforce. Last week, Kwantlen Polytechnic University announced that approximately 70 full-time faculty would be laid off, and announcements had already been made at Vancouver Island University, Camosun College, the College of New Caledonia, North Island College, and Langara College. We expect more layoff announcements in the coming weeks.

Despite this crisis, the provincial government and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills have been silent on the plight of our institutions.

“As we face the headwinds of tariffs and the call from the provincial government for a more responsive, innovative, and flexible post-secondary education sector, we are stunned by the silence of the Premier and the Minister on this crisis,” said Brent Calvert, President of FPSE.

“The Eby government supervises and micromanages every element of our sector but has failed to take any action in the face of this crisis,” Calvert added.

In January 2024, the federal government abruptly announced a 35% cut in new international student permits. In addition, the federal government subsequently changed regulations around post-graduation work permits and dramatically reduced the ability of international students to access pathways to permanent residency. These combined changes have had a devastating impact on BC’s colleges and universities.

“We need a bold response from the government on the path forward for higher education in British Columbia. The government controls almost all aspects of our institutions but is now pretending they have no role in addressing this crisis,” said Michael Conlon, FPSE Executive Director. “The Minister and Deputy Minister continue to mislead our members and British Columbians about the tight control they exercise over our sector. They need to step up and provide solutions to this crisis instead of peddling the half-truth that our institutions are autonomous,” concluded Conlon.

BC launched a post-secondary funding review in 2022 … but the government suddenly abandoned the review without any notice or communication … the Minister has continued to reference the cancelled review in correspondence with the Langara Faculty Association and others as if it were a completed, credible review.

“Our members are losing patience with obfuscation and political games,” said Calvert. “We are ready to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the government to ensure we have a post-secondary education sector that meets the needs of all British Columbians,” concluded Calvert.

Turkey: Ismet Aslan Released – Trade Unionism is Not a Crime!

Trade unionist Ismet Aslan has been released after six months in prison. The court made this decision today, March 26th, during the first hearing in Istanbul. The trial will continue, but Ismet will not remain in detention.

Ismet was arrested on October 7th, 2024, along with fellow unionists Giyasettin Yiğit and Yusuf Eminoğlu, charged under Turkey’s anti-terror law, often used against unions and activists.

He was accused of “financing terrorism.” The evidence included small money transfers between him and other union officers, calls with dismissed teachers, and visits to Europe—including a Brussels meeting of ETUC.

A secret witness provided online testimony, but the court did not find it convincing and ruled for Ismet’s release.

Ismet is now reunited with his wife and 1 year old son Armanc. In court, he stated, “I am not a criminal. I am a trade unionist,” explaining his actions as part of his union duties.

The LabourStart campaign helped raise global awareness, with nearly 5,000 supporters showing the power of international solidarity.

The next hearing is on July 10th, 2025. We thank everyone who supported the campaign—your solidarity made a difference.

LabourStart Report for Radio Labour Canada 21-03-2025

The RadioLabour episode that carried this report can be found at: https://rabble.ca/podcast/bc-lifelabs-workers-strike-against-american-corporation/

This week the top stories sections on our Canadian French- and English-language pages was, conveniently enough, not only also our global top story in English but LabourStart’s podcast for the week.

It’s a pretty fab ten minute interview with Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. My old union as it happens.

Pat Bulmer, LabourStart’s co-ordinator in Canada and a Unifor member, asked Mark about CUPE’s Montreal Declaration and how it sets the stage for CUPE’s response to Trump’s tariffs and to the threat of annexation.

It was a big week for big news in the Canadian labour movement.

In BC, UNITE-HERE members at a hotel in the lower mainland returned to work after 1411 days, ending what just might be our longest strike ever. The strikers, mostly women and racialized workers, won a huge victory not just in terms of wages and working conditions, but they won recall rights for 143 of their comrades who had been sacked during the pandemic.

We also carried the exciting news that CUPE’s chain bargaining strategy in Alberta’s education sector is working as a cascade of settlements started earlier this week.

But my favourite item, among our Canadian stories at least, was about the certification vote this week in which 500 or more Uber drivers in BC decided whether to join UFCW 1518. Fingers crossed of course as the company is putting up the kind of fight you’d expect from it, but we hope to soon bring you some good news about the result.

On our working women news page you’ll find stories from Canada and from around the globe in 9 languages.

Stories like the calls heard from union women for cross-border solidarity with their USian sisters.

And among the Canadian items appearing on our health and safety page and newswire this week was coverage of the start of construction of a memorial to the victims of a crane collapse in Kelowna BC that killed five workers in 2021.

It almost didn’t happen after the BC government denied an application for $150 grand to build the memorial. But after an anonymous donor popped the needed cash construction started this week.

LabourStart’s Photo of the Week isn’t often Canadian but as a Canadian is our photo editor and as that Canadian is me, you all get to hear about our photo of the week in each episode.

This week we carried a photo of two Argentinian police officers firing their shotguns at a crowd of pensioners.

On 12 march, thousands of pensioners peacefully gathered across Argentina to protest cuts to pensions and public services under the Milei regime. Security forces responded brutally. One person remains in hospital in critical condition and the far-right Milei government continues to cut services to citizens while making life easier for the very rich and for large businesses.

Labour’s history is what our current struggles are built on and this week we marked the anniversaries of these events:

This week in 1960 five Italian immigrant workers died in an underground tunnel at a watermain construction project in suburban Toronto. The Hogg’s Hollow Disaster drew public attention to the prevalence of unsafe conditions in construction and the exploitation of immigrant workers.

There are lots more Canadian labour history items like this to be found at the bottom of our Canadian news pages. Look for them and be inspired.

And because it was a big week campaigns-wise we have a third new call for solidarity for you: The Fight the Heist campaign unites garment workers across Asia and is targeting global brands like Nike in a push to for a living wage and safe workplaces.

If you can spare just a few seconds you can do your part in these struggles by sending a solidarity message.

Look for details of these and other campaigns on our site.

Before i go, a quick shout out to the 13,000 CSN members who work at 400 daycare centres across Quebec. This week they upped the ante in their dispute with the provincial government and spent two days on the picket line after their union called a warning strike. Such time-limited walkouts are common in several provinces and while they require incredible discipline by the workers warning strikes can also send a powerful message to an employer and reduce the total time on the line that it takes to get a settlement.

This is Derek Blackadder from LabourStart reporting for RadioLabour.

Opening date set for crane workers memorial

A letter from the Rise Memorial Foundation, Kelowna, B.C., Canada

It is with immense pride and anticipation that I write you this letter to share the news that the Rise Memorial Gardens, located at its future home of Knowles Heritage Park in Kelowna B.C., officially commenced construction on March 11, 2025.

This project has taken over 3 years of immense planning, coordination, and effort from countless devoted community members, organizations, and supporters such as yourself. Together we’ve raised over $350,000 to guarantee we memorialize the memories of the five young men (Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Eric Stemmer, Patrick Stemmer, and Brad Zawislak) whose lives were taken away far too soon in this horrible workplace tragedy. This memorial stands to ensure their memories live on, but also to offer the community a future space for grieving and healing from the impacts of any workplace accident that may ever occur in the future. Lastly, it will serve as a stark reminder to all of us of the importance of making a continued commitment to workplace safety each and every day.

As such, I wanted to invite you to tentatively save the date of Saturday, July 12, 2025, when we are anticipating the site to be complete and opened to the public, to join us for an unveiling event that will also mark the 4th anniversary of the tragedy.

KCTU: “The judge’s decision to cancel Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention denies judicial principles upheld for decades”

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference on March 10th at 1:30 PM to condemn the cancellation of Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention and announce the urgent action plans. The KCTU claimed, “The judge’s decision to cancel Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention denies judicial principles upheld for decades” and “The prosecution has shamefully released someone accused of insurrection.” They added, “The KCTU, which was first to rush to parliament and create the square for the impeachment rally to prevent insurrection, declares we will again stand at the forefront against insurrectionist forces.”

The KCTU will hold an “Emergency Rally to Condemn Yoon Suk-yeol’s Release and Demand Constitutional Court to decide on his removal” on the 11th at 3 PM, followed by an overnight sit-in protest. On the 15th at 3 PM, KCTU will launch its largest nationwide protest demanding Yoon’s removal.

Chairman Yang Kyeung-soo stated, “The workers who first rushed to parliament on December 3rd during the martial law night, and to Hannam-dong on January 3rd for Yoon Suk-yeol’s arrest, will again pave the way to finalise Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal.” He continued, “Workers’ right to strike could be taken away, the media controlled, and parliament blocked in a terrible repeat of martial law. It’s time for us to act. Fellow KCTU members, let’s lead the fight. Citizens, please join us.”

Below is the full press statement:

<<We strongly condemn the political decision by the prosecution and demand swift removal by the Constitutional Court!>>

Last weekend, the court’s cancellation of Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention and the prosecution’s abandonment of appeal shocked the public. The judge cancelled the detention of a serious criminal accused of leading an insurrection, and the prosecution, which should investigate insurrection and uphold law and order, released him.

The judge’s decision to cancel detention denies judicial principles upheld for decades, all for the rights of someone accused of destroying democracy and pushing our society into extreme division and confrontation. The prosecution committed a shameless act by giving up their immediate appeal against the judge’s unfair and one-sided interpretation of the law, releasing the insurrection suspect.

The anti-public deviation by some judges and prosecutors confirms that the persistent opposition to impeachment and removal by the accused and supporting forces has influenced law enforcement agencies. Since the unconstitutional coup, Yoon has consistently claimed martial law was justified, while far-right forces have shaped public opinion against removal, the People Power Party has created political chaos, and these anti-removal forces are now openly inciting violence.

To end the current anti-democratic behaviour and sociopolitical chaos, division and confrontation, the Constitutional Court must make a removal decision as soon as possible. The Constitutional Court has thoroughly examined those involved in the insurrection and guaranteed maximum defence rights to the accused.

The Constitutional Court is constitutionally responsible for ending the unconstitutional insurrection that has continued and deepened since December 3rd. They must set a sentencing date quickly and decide on removal.

The KCTU, which was first to rush to parliament and open the public protest square to prevent insurrection, declares we will again stand at the forefront against insurrectionist forces.

On March 11th (Tuesday), KCTU national workplace representatives will hold an emergency rally to “Condemn Yoon Suk-yeol’s Release and Demand Constitutional Court to immediately Remove Yoon” followed by an overnight protest. On March 15th, it will launch the largest nationwide protest demanding Yoon’s removal. The KCTU will fight alongside citizens hoping for the protection of democracy and an end to insurrection until the Constitutional Court decides on removal, and we will certainly win.

March 10, 2025

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

We will never stop fighting for workers’ rights

LabourStart has been around for more than 26 years now, which is extraordinary.

When we went live in the spring of 1998, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok didn’t yet exist.

Most unions didn’t even have websites.

We were seen as pioneers, and we helped lead many unions forward into a new age of instant global communications.

And despite all that has changed, one thing remains the same: Without unions, workers are vulnerable to exploitation and violations of their rights.

The fight to ensure that every worker in the world has the right to join or form a union — that fight goes on every day.

And LabourStart is there to help.

That’s why we’re running seven live campaigns now, helping workers in Eswatini, Serbia, Czechia, India, Taiwan, Poland and Georgia.

Two weeks ago I visited the striking workers at Evolution Gaming in Tbilisi, Georgia. Our campaign is showing them that they are not alone — that they have the support of thousands of individual trade union members, like yourself. And our messages to the company are sending a clear message, saying that we demand and expect them to respect workers’ rights, and to negotiate with the union.

When workers and their unions reach out to LabourStart for help, we always say yes.

And we charge them nothing. It’s a free service. It’s why we exist.

Your donations, large and small, make all the difference. They allow us to continue working day in and day out on behalf of workers who sometimes feel isolated, weak and vulnerable. We show them that their voices are being heard, and by working with fellow union members around the world, that we can win.

In the last few weeks, we’ve begun experiencing an extremely difficult financial situation at LabourStart. We’re reaching out to our union partners for help, and we’re hopeful that we will get through this. We’ve kept our expenses to a minimum and we’ve even cut back. Because of this, we need your donations more than ever before.

If you can donate, please click here to do so.

Together, we’re going to get through this difficult period — and we’re going to continue to fight side by side with the workers in every country where help is needed.

Thank you – and solidarity forever!

Eric Lee

LabourStart

Oil workers of South Sudan get training from Norwegian union

by Espen Løken

The petroleum industry is global and consists of some of the most powerful companies in the world. These companies, whether it be oil companies or service companies, operate all over the world. We also have seen to many examples of oil becoming a curse for countries, marked by pollution of the environment, corruption and greed. Therefore it is very important to build strong unions within the industry, unions that cooperates across national borders. The Norwegian union “Styrke” (earlier “Industri Energi”) uses lots of resources to contribute to this.

South Sudan, independent from Sudan since July 2011 after decades of civil war, is one of the world’s poorest countries and ranks among the lowest in many socioeconomic categories. Problems are exacerbated by ongoing tensions with Sudan over oil revenues and land borders, fighting between government forces and rebel groups, and inter-communal violence. There is extreme poverty and food insecurity, and problems have escalated because of several hundred thousand refugees from the civil war in Sudan.

The by far most important industry and source of income for the country is oil. More than 95% of the income to the Government is oil revenues. This industry is dominated by Chinese, and to some extent Malaysian and Indian companies. In 2017 the union «Workers Trade Union of Petroleum and Mining» (WTUPM) was established. This union is trying to build strength to be able to fight for the workers’ interests as well as make the companies take responsibility for the environment which has to a large extent been polluted.

Since 2009 the union Styrke (before Industri Energi) which amongst others organizes oil workers in Norway, has supported a program by Norwegian People’s Aid aiming at strengthening the civil society in the country. One important part of this has been to support building of the trade unions, especially within the important petroleum industry. This month 3 experts from the union had a 3 days workshop training 40 trade union representatives from WTUPM, focusing on health and safety and governance of trade unions. Even if Norwegian petroleum is an offshore industry while the South Sudanese activities are onshore, the requirements and way of thinking should be the same both regarding the workers safety and the surrounding environment.

Industri Energi (Styrke) uses 3% of the member dues for international work, having projects with trade unions in several countries with the aim of strengthening trade unions. This is especially important in the petroleum industry marked by companies operating all over the world. Cooperating and helping eachother across borders makes the union movement stronger.

Picture: Espen Løken from the union “Styrke” was one of the trainers

Georgia: Borjomi strike ends

Statement from the Trade Union of Agriculture, Trade and Industry

After 22 days of strike, on June 21, an agreement was reached between the trade unions, the employees of the Borjomi factory and the management of IDS Borjomi Georgia.

All the main demands, which were voiced by Giorgi Diasamidze, Chairman of the Trade Union of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, together with the employees during the strike period, have been met.

The factory workers who were illegally fired were reinstated in their jobs, and in addition to the workers receiving compensation, a number of issues were resolved in their favor.

In particular, as a result of the agreement between the parties:

• 2021 contracts will be automatically returned by January 1, 2023, in case no better contract is offered by that time.

• Employees with three-, six- and one-year term contracts will sign permanent contracts

• Employees fired two or three months ago due to expiration of a fixed-term contract will be reinstated in their jobs

• All employees who expressed a desire to leave the job by September 2022 will receive 6 months compensation

• IDS Borjomi Georgia undertakes to allocate a room in the factory for trade union activities

• The employer undertakes not to terminate contracts with trailer drivers who express solidarity with the strikers without unequivocal confirmation of the strike.

• The employer makes a commitment and pays the strike days at the forced deley rate

• The employer undertakes to provide employees with transport from June 2022 as before the pandemic.

• The trade union undertakes to withdraw all court sues under this agreement.

The workers at the Borjomi factory are satisfied with the results achieved and believe that justice has been restored to them.

“The agreement we signed is temporary, we will start working on a new agreement in November. If the company does not offer better terms and it is not acceptable to us, we have to go back to the contract reached after the 2021 strike, I mean a fixed salary. As of today, we are happy with what we have agreed on, though it does not end there. We will continue to work. I would like to thank the trade unions and in particular Giorgi Diasamidze, if not for this person, we would not have achieved all this. He put a lot of work and energy into the people employed in Borjomi. “Thanks to him, we have won for the second time,” said Marina Dvalashvili, an employee of the Borjomi factory.

Enforcement and control of the terms of the agreement will be carried out by the Labor Inspection Service of Georgia.

The employees were represented by the chairman of the trade union of agriculture, trade and industry and the lawyer of the union. The other side who ware involved in the negotiation process: a representative of the Georgian government, the Labor Inspection Service and the State Representative in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.