On Oct. 21, the PSSP affiliated Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements held its launching conference and ceremony at the Franciscan Education Center.

Our Mission

The Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements was established in 2010 to contribute to the revitalization of the workers movement in South Korea and beyond. Through empirical and theoretical study and dialogue with workers themselves, we are working to critically analyze the conditions workers face amidst the structural crisis of capitalism, and develop concrete policy for a workers movement that both improves workers’ lives and strives towards an alternative political-economic system.

Central to our work is the concept of social movement unionism, which calls for unions and other workers’ organizations to play a leading role in political and social transformation. Social movement unionism also signifies union collaboration with social movement forces and the articulation of the struggle for labor rights with struggles against other forms of structural oppression, including the women’s, anti-war, anti-racist and environmental justice movements.

By fostering social movement unionism in South Korea we seek to cultivate the Korean workers movement as part of a worldwide alterglobalization movement.
The Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements is affiliated to the social movement organization People’s Solidarity for Social Progress, founded in 1998.

The program for the day was as follows:

3:00pm 6:30pm Launching Conference

– The Economic Crisis and the Prospects for the Workers Movement; Hasoon Park, Executive Director, Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements

– The Korean Labor Movement: Theoretical Perspective and Tasks Ahead, Jiwon Han, Research Director, Research Director, Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements

Discussants: Tae-yeon Kim (Executive Director, Workers’ Front); Seung-cheol Im (Steering Committee Member, Innovation Network); Il-bu Jeong (Korean Institute for Labor Movement)

7:00pm 8:00pm Launching Ceremony

Contract Information: email: psspawm gmail.com

website: http://www.awm.or.kr/

Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements Workshop, Nov. 8

Posted in activities on November 1^st, 2010 by pssp – Be the first to comment
On November 8, the Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements will host a workshop on union responses to transnational corporations as part of the International People’s conference, held in Seoul in timing with the G20 Summit. If you are coming to Seoul, please attend!

International Responses: TNC Structural Adjustment during the Economic Crisis and Labour’s Strategies for Resistance

Workshop No. 3 of the International People’s Conference, Seoul, November 7 10, 2010

Background

Workers around the world have been facing massive layoffs and wage cuts since the start of the global economic crisis in 2008. According to ILO statistics, the global unemployment growth rate increased 18% between May 2008 and May 2009.

Layoffs and relocation of production by transnational corporations have played an important role in the deterioration of working conditions around the world. In response to the economic crisis, transnational corporations have closed factories and enforced layoffs in countries were consumption levels have stagnated, such as the U.S. and European countries, and moved to countries that might serve as new sources of consumption, such as China and India. Transnational automobile producers, such as GM and Toyota, who have close their plants in the U.S. and Europe and expanded investment in China, are typical of this trend. Because these types of structural adjustment are carried out through the transnational movement of capital, it is highly difficult for nationally-based unions to respond effectively. What is more, the activities of TNCs have great impact on the structural adjustment and worsening of labor-management relations in other companies in effected regions. This can be seen in South Korea where, over the last two years, labour repression by the Valeo and Parker Corporations has significantly influenced other companies and led to the general deterioration of labour-management relations. Needless to say, it is extremely important that unions develop an effective strategy for resistance.

The proposed workshop is meant as a space in which unions from various countries can share their experiences in responding to transnational corporations, and discuss mid to long-terms strategies for collective resistance. Leaders from around the world will gather in Seoul for the G20 Summit from November 11-12. To response to the Summit, labour unions and social movement forces are preparing a People’s Week of Collective Actions (November 6 12), during which time an International People’s Conference will be held from November 7 10. These events offer an important opportunity for unions and social movement forces from around the world to build a collective vision, develop strategies for responding to various aspects of the economic crisis, and begin to discuss alternative solutions. The proposed workshop will be an important part of this process.

Venue: Kim Dae Gon Hall, Sogang University

Date and Time: November 8, 16:30 18:30

Program

Moderator: Wol-san Liem, Researcher, Research Institute for Alternative Workers

16:30 16:40 Welcome Hasoon Park, Executive Director, Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements

16:40 17:00 Korean experiences in fighting transnational corporations Jiwon Han, Research Director, Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements

17:00 17:40 Brazilian experience in fighting transnational corporations Quintino Marques Severo, General Secretary, CUT Brazil

17:40 17:55 break

17:55 18:05 Summary of presentations and proposal from the Research Institute for Alternative Workers Movements Moderator

18:05 18:30 Q and A and Discussion Moderator

Translation: Consecutive translation Portuguese-Korean, Simultaneous translation Korean-English