SKorea health workers threaten strike over US beef, wages
AFP 21 July 2008
SKorea health workers threaten strike over US beef, wages
SEOUL (AFP) - South Korean hospital workers on Monday threatened to strike this week to press demands including a ban on the use of US beef for patients’ meals.
The 38,000-member Korea Health and Medical Workers’ Union, which also covers nurses, said the walkout would begin nationwide early Wednesday unless its demands are met by midnight Tuesday.
It is also calling for the government to scrap plans to privatise the medical insurance system, improved staffing and better wages and working conditions.
Hospital workers were among tens of thousands who began demonstrating in early May against the planned resumption of US beef imports, which sparked fears of mad cow disease.
The mass protests have largely ended since the government secured extra health safeguards from Washington, and US beef is currently on sale.
"Member unions should collect signatures from people in a campaign to block US beef, which carries the danger of mad cow disease, from being used for hospital meals," the umbrella health workers’ union said on its website.
Previous strikes by nurses and other hospital workers crippled the health system, despite union efforts to keep emergency units running.
Union leaders said they would launch a sit-in late Tuesday at 20 general hospitals nationwide to press their demands.
The union said 73 percent of respondents had voted for the walkout in a June 16-18 ballot.
Even though mass rallies have ended, hardcore beef protesters have continued to campaign, sometimes with violent outcomes.
Police said Sunday they had detained 16 demonstrators and used water cannon during an overnight rally by some 1,600 people.
