ID :
37559
Fri, 12/26/2008 - 20:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37559
The shortlink copeid
Broadcasters' union protests deregulatory push
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of unionized workers at South Korea's broadcasting stations launched a coordinated walkout Friday to protest the ruling party's plan to deregulate laws governing ownership of broadcasters and introduce other competition-inducing bills.
The National Union of Media Workers (NUMW), which represents unions of some 120
television and radio stations, said its members halted production as of 6 a.m.
Some, however, took part in the protest by reporting on their cause in news
programs.
Some 2,000 workers, including reporters and producers at the top three
broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS, are staging a rally in central Seoul from 2 p.m.
Most news and other real-time programs were aired normally by non-union workers.
The protest, set to continue for an indefinite number of days, comes as the
ruling Grand National Party plans to introduce seven bills aimed at easing laws
that restrict television and radio station ownership.
The party, together with the Korea Communications Commission, also plans to allow
simultaneous operation of both newspaper and broadcasting stations by a single
owner, which is banned under current laws.
The union of MBC has been playing a leading role in the strike, the first
nationwide media union strike in nine years, as the bills include a plan to
privatize the company.
Amid President Lee Myung-bak's pledge to restructure and deregulate the overall
economy, state-run broadcasters such as KBS and MBC are under pressure to
downsize or privatize to better compete with the increasing presence of emerging
private competitors and new platforms such as Internet-protocol television
systems.
"The strike is aimed at stopping the administration from reorganizing the
nation's broadcasting industry to allow ownership by large conglomerates," said
Choi Sang-je, head of NUMW.
Television and radio stations, however, will continue to run regular programming
for the time being as most stations' production schedules run two weeks prior to
airing, according to NUMW.
Shin Jae-min, deputy minister at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, branded the
strike as "illegal" and vowed to deal with the situation "sternly in accordance
with laws and principles." The Labor Ministry also issued a statement urging
union members to refrain from strikes.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
The National Union of Media Workers (NUMW), which represents unions of some 120
television and radio stations, said its members halted production as of 6 a.m.
Some, however, took part in the protest by reporting on their cause in news
programs.
Some 2,000 workers, including reporters and producers at the top three
broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS, are staging a rally in central Seoul from 2 p.m.
Most news and other real-time programs were aired normally by non-union workers.
The protest, set to continue for an indefinite number of days, comes as the
ruling Grand National Party plans to introduce seven bills aimed at easing laws
that restrict television and radio station ownership.
The party, together with the Korea Communications Commission, also plans to allow
simultaneous operation of both newspaper and broadcasting stations by a single
owner, which is banned under current laws.
The union of MBC has been playing a leading role in the strike, the first
nationwide media union strike in nine years, as the bills include a plan to
privatize the company.
Amid President Lee Myung-bak's pledge to restructure and deregulate the overall
economy, state-run broadcasters such as KBS and MBC are under pressure to
downsize or privatize to better compete with the increasing presence of emerging
private competitors and new platforms such as Internet-protocol television
systems.
"The strike is aimed at stopping the administration from reorganizing the
nation's broadcasting industry to allow ownership by large conglomerates," said
Choi Sang-je, head of NUMW.
Television and radio stations, however, will continue to run regular programming
for the time being as most stations' production schedules run two weeks prior to
airing, according to NUMW.
Shin Jae-min, deputy minister at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, branded the
strike as "illegal" and vowed to deal with the situation "sternly in accordance
with laws and principles." The Labor Ministry also issued a statement urging
union members to refrain from strikes.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
