hankyoreh

the president of Korea Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU

The Korea Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU, Jeon Gyo Jo) publicly released the fact Monday that Fred Van Leeuwen, general secretary of the Education International (EI), sent a letter to President Lee Myung-bak on June 30 to protest the punishment being issued against teachers who participated and endorsed the emergency declaration on the state of current affairs in South Korea.

In this letter, the General Secretary Leeuwen says, “EI vehemently protests the arrests and disciplinary measures taken against teachers and union members for criticizing the administration’s education policy.” He also says, “EI is very concerned about the lack of social dialogue with the KTU teachers’ union and the attempts by the Korean authorities to restrain freedom of association by imprisoning teachers’ union leaders. ”

Leeuwen also wrote, “Over the recent years, EI has protested a number of times against the detention of KTU leaders who have taken part in peaceful union activities in support of a quality public education, and In 2007 and 2008, jail sentences against KTU members participating in union gatherings were disproportionate to their activity.”

The letter refers to ILO jurisprudence, and how “the freedom of expression that should be enjoyed by trade unions and their leaders should also be guaranteed when they wish to criticize the government’s economic and social policy.” In conclusion, the letter also asks the South Korean government “to suspend all prejudicial measures against the KTU members and leaders, and to take the necessary steps to ensure that Korean teacher unionists may exercise their freedom of association rights, including the freedoms of expression and assembly, without fear of intervention by the authorities.”

Education International is a global union federation of teachers representing over 401 member organizations in 172 countries and territories, including the KTU.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]