News

The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) had launched a series of campaigns against a wide range of healthcare issues throughout the month of May. Some of the activities include press conferences, rallies, a 'White Tide" road march, as well as a photo campaign.

At the press conference launched on International Nurses Day, 12 May, KHMU demanded for a list of changes in the healthcare industry:

• To increase the number of nurses, currently one third of the OECD average, and to enact a law to guarantee a ratio of patients and nurses
• To strengthen public health services; reopen the Jinju Medical Center (a public medical center often visited by working families)
• To expand benefits coverage by the National Health Insurance
• To oppose the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP)
• To end healthcare privatization policies

This was followed by a collaboration with the Pan-Korea Campaign Center against Healthcare Privatization (PCCHP) to protest against healthcare privatization policies in front of the Seoul Government Complex from 12 May to 23 May 2014.

KHMU had also joined the Korean Railway Workers Union (KRWU) and the PCCHP to march in the streets in Seoul on May 24 whilst clad in white. The march follows the 'White Tide Campaign' by Spanish healthcare workers which had successfully fought against healthcare privatization. This is an ongoing campaign and the organisers will be holding a similar rally every 4th Saturday of the month to campaign against healthcare privatization.

In addition, KHMU conducted a one-man protest campaign with a press conference to commemorate the one year closure of Jinju Medical Center on 29 May. They also held a “Proof Shot Campaign” where the public was encouraged to capture a photo at the campaign site.

As Korea will be holding elections for municipalities and city councils on June 4 2014, four KHMU members have announced their candidacy for local councils and heads of gu (boroughs). The union has signed a pact with four opposition candidates running for provincial governorships, all of whom opposes the privatization of the healthcare industry.

The 15th UNI Apro Women's Committee had signed a resolution supporting KHMU on 5 April 2014.