As the outlook for a split of the DLP has become a reality, some unions under the KCTU are starting officially to criticize the political line of exclusive support for the DLP.

Korean Federation of Clerical & Financial Labor Unions (KFCFLU) Political Bureau had a meeting on the 12th February to decide that the union would not follow the KCTU’s official line of exclusive support for the DLP. In addition to that the political bureau members unanimously decided to defect from the DLP, if the KCTU does not change the policy.

The decision seems to have some influences, because it is the first official resolution ever made among political bureaus of unions under the KCTU and, moreover, threatening collective defection. The political bureau’s resolution would be ratified and activated by central board and representatives’ conference. The bureau is also known to prepare for discussion with the KCTU.

Lee Doo-hun, the director of KFCFLU‘s political bureau said “The resolution is not necessarily linked to the process that will divide the DLP, but it’s intended to make the KCTU admit a variety of political opinions within the union,” and “plethora of those orienting toward labor politics (parties, groups and individuals) should have right to serve the front.”

Pouring out Claims to Abandon the Policy

When, late January, the prospect over split of the DLP became concrete, Lee Suk-hang, the President of KCTU, declared in a press conference that the KCTU would deal with the general election in partnership with the DLP, and try to achieve the goal of labor politics only through the party.

“The KCTU has only coerced members into obeying its unilateral policy, rather than harmonizing various opinions to play the role of locomotive in handling the party,” added Lee Doo-hun and “if the KCTU is to make truly progressive party, it should be opened to different opinions.”

The exclusive support policy has been caught in a political crossfire.

Some candidates running for the president of KCTU last year even promised withdrawal of the policy as a main campaign pledge. Last May Hyundai Motors union political bureau demand abandonment, saying “If the KCTU remains unchanged in forcing its affiliates to be rubber-stamp, the official presidential election strategy, organizing votes based on the cause of the labor class, will lose its meaning.”

Translated by Cho Eun-seok