SOUTH KOREA: VIOLENCE AS STRIKERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE скачать в хорошем качестве

SOUTH KOREA: VIOLENCE AS STRIKERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE

(25 Apr 1999) Natural Sound With their leaders on the point of being arrested, striking Seoul subway workers and students clashed with riot police on Sunday. Ignoring a government ultimatum to return to work or face dismissal, the workers are protesting reforms that are expected to result in mass layoffs. The government has warned the unrest is hurting national efforts to rebuild a battered economy just as it is showing signs of recovery. Students and striking workers clash with riot police around Seoul's National University. The government has deployed thousands of riot police, backed by armoured vehicles carrying tear gas against the protesters. Anti-government students are backing the striking subway workers. Police fought back with water canons and used a helicopter to blow dust wind onto the students and striking workers in an attempt to disperse the crowds. One of the country's most powerful unions, the Seoul subway union boasts 11-thousand members. The subway workers went on strike on Monday to protest plans to cut their workforce by 20 per cent. The subway strike was ruled illegal because it did not observe a mandatory 15-day cooling-off period. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a powerful umbrella group, said it's to start protests on Monday against government plans for corporate restructuring which may result in thousands of redundancies. Some 30-thousand telephone and other workers are to join the demonstrations. The government also argues that corporate restructuring cannot be a labour dispute issue. After holding an emergency meeting on Sunday, the government and the ruling party maintained their get-tough stance. Analysts say militant unions present the nation with one of its biggest challenges to carrying out painful reforms ordered by the International Monetary Fund in return for a record 58 (b) billion U-S dollar bailout package. But the strikers and students say they are determined not to back down in the face of government threats. Some 2-thousand five hundred workers and students are still holed up on the university campus. The striking workers have until 1900 GMT Sunday to return to work or face dismissal. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...