Ei-iE

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU) has denounced the imminent dismissal of 134 public schools’ teachers and trade unionists by the end of October, violating South Korea Local Education Act.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has ordered each provincial education office in the country to proceed to the immediate dismissal of a group of 134 teachers as from November 1, before the official court’s verdict on this issue. As EI had reported, a group of 183 teachers were charged on May 2010 for allegedly joining an opposition party, the Democratic Labor Party, breaking a “political neutrality clause” within the country Civil Servants’ Law. However, according to Korean Local Education Act, the Ministry of Education doesn’t have the power to take disciplinary measures against local teachers. The decision was then postponed, beginning a legal process that has now been illegally interrupted.

KTU denounces Ministry of Education’s disrespect of the basic principles of democracy, constitutionalism and the presumption of innocence. In recent years, EI has drawn the attention of Lee Myung-bak administration to a number of incidents where illegitimate or disproportionate disciplinary measures have been taken against KTU leaders and members who take part in trade unions’ activities.

EI strongly condemns this situation and call on teachers and member organisations to join voices in solidarity with South Korean colleagues, asking the government to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the plan to dismiss the 183 teachers, as well as to guarantee that teacher rights to join unions and to bargain collectively, free from Government intimidation and threats of dismissal, are respected.

Send a protest letter now to the South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, and the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Ju-Ho Lee.