KOREA: Broadcasters to strike against media bills

MBC, SBS and KBS union workers launch joint walkout

The Korea Times
Monday, July 20, 2009

By Kim Rahn

Three terrestrial broadcasters will go on strike today in protest against the governing party's move to unilaterally pass media-related bills.

It is the first time in 12 years that the three television stations will launch a joint walkout. In January 1997 they joined together in a general strike organized by labor unions from all sectors against the passage of a labor bill.

Unionized workers at MBC and SBS started the collective action this morning, along with a strike led by the National Union of Media Workers, the umbrella union of the broadcasters.

The bills, which would allow newspapers and conglomerates to own stakes in broadcasters and cable networks, has been at the center of controversy in both the political circle and the media industry. Media unions claim that if the bill is passed, conservative newspapers and chaebol will control television news coverage, monopolizing public opinion.

The umbrella union plans to hold a five-day walkout through July 25 -- the strike is the third of its kind against the media bill, following a 13-day strike which began on Dec. 26 and a six-day strike which started Feb. 26.

"Through the bills, the government and the governing Grand National Party (GNP) plan to allow conservative dailies and chaebol to control broadcasting, thereby producing public opinion favorable to the Lee Myung-bak administration," the union said in a statement.

It urged the GNP to scrap the bill and focus on other issues to revive the economy, and for the main opposition Democratic Party to more actively protest the governing party's move.

The media union plans to stage a rally in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, central Seoul, Tuesday afternoon.

The KBS union, which withdrew from the umbrella union last year, said Monday that it will join the collective action starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

"We will stage the walkout to maintain the diversity of public opinion as a public broadcaster. Some 5,000 members across the nation will take part in the strike. More than 85 percent of them already agreed on the move in a poll in March," the union said in a statement.

Date Posted: 7/20/2009