Some Workers End Walkouts In South Korea

Subway workers in the capital returned to the job today, a sign that South Korea’s largest labor protest ever might be easing. But major industries still were idled by hundreds of thousands of strikers.

Workers began walking off the job five days ago and vowed to continue their protest until the government abolishes a new labor law that they say threatens job security.

Subway workers in the southern city of Pusan and unionized workers at 14 major hospitals in Seoul and in provincial cities said they also are ending their protests.

The moves, coordinated by a maverick umbrella labor group, were expected to ease mounting labor unrest which has idled hundreds of automobile, shipbuilding and other manufacturing plants.

“The decision is temporary and does not mean that our fight is over,” Seoul subway union leader Kim Sunku said.

He said his union may call another strike on Jan. 6 after the traditional new year holidays end.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Trade Unions, an outlawed nation-wide labor group that organized the protests, said thousands were continuing the strike for the fifth day today.

At a major rally in Seoul on Sunday, 20,000 workers from throughout the country pledged to continue the fight until the government abolishes the new labor law.