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UNI steps up its support for the striking E.Land shop workers in Korea
Union Network International UNI is stepping up its support for the E.Land shop workers in Korea, who have been trying to save their jobs through trade union action. The strike action has continued for more than six weeks already, but their employer has refused to approach the negotiations seriously. The company's founder and main owner Park Song-Su has been conspicuously absent from the scene during the conflict.
In a letter to commerce trade unions worldwide, UNI Commerce is asking for material support which will enable the E.Land workers' union to continue defending the jobs of its members. The young workers, who are mainly supermarket cashiers and sales personnel, are under great personal strain. As for other so-called non-regular workers in Korea, their incomes are very low and the social security protection is non-existent.
Also UNI itself is supporting the E.Land workers, through their trade union federation KFSU. In a message to the union, UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings assured them that the global union federation will stand firm behind the E.Land workers.
Material support has also been sent to the striking workers by the US and German UNI Commerce affiliates UFCW and ver.di, as well as by UNI Commerce on behalf of the commerce and office workers' trade unions in the five Nordic countries.
UNI Commerce is also in discussions with US trade unions concerning a possible solidarity action. On the American market, E.Land is pushing its E-Land Kids - www.elandkids.com - apparel range, and is said to plan opening its first store in New York in the near future.
In the Korean capital, seven E.Land trade union leaders are still behind bars in a police jail. Calls by the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, UNI Global Union Federation and others for the government authorities to ensure their release have gone unanswered.
For more stories and pictures on the E.Land workers' struggle, go to the dedicated UNI Commerce webpage:
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