MBC labor union to go on strike in an effort to force MBC president to resign

[gloomyclock.livejournal.com]

Less than a year after going on a strike but failing to obtain the resignation of MBC president Kim Jae Chul, the MBC labor union has decided to go on strike once again for the same purpose.

MBC labor union members participated in voting from January 25th – 27th , aimed to decide whether to go on strike to force the resignation of MBC president Kim Jae Chul.

Of the 1,010 labor union members, 783 members casted their votes, 69.4% were for a strike while the remaining members were against it.

The labor union felt that despite airing their grievances over Kim Jae Chul being a puppet of the Lee Myung Bak administration and interfering with the neutrality of the station in their strike last April, nothing has changed. The labor union also asserts that there has been a massive clampdown on freedom of the press. Thus, they have decided to go on strike again to get Kim to step down and return MBC to a neutrality state.

The movement also stemmed from a show of no confidence in MBC’s newsroom chiefs with MBC journalists issuing a statement recently criticizing biased and substandard news reporting and calling for their resignations. For example, when a scandal broke on President Lee Myung Bak’s retirement residence last November, the top story of MBC’s 9PM news program was the surging popularity of K-pop stars.

The strike will begin at 6AM local time on January 30th. A representative from the MBC’s labor union stated, “We should always present an honest and accurate broadcasting to viewers, since we serve viewers with neutrality, as the nation’s public broadcaster.”

So how does this affect you? For a start, some variety shows, dramas and news programs will bear the full brunt of this shutdown.

Variety shows and dramas that are outsourced to 3rd party production companies, will not be affected in any way by the strike and are likely to be aired as scheduled.

An example would be currently airing MBC dramas, “The Moon That Embraces The Sun” and “Lights and Shadows“.  This will come as a huge relief to viewers of these programs.

But for variety programs like “We Got Married“, “Infinity Challenge“, “I Am A Singer“, etc, which are largely produced by in-house MBC staff, they will be affected if there is a prolonged strike.

MBC has meanwhile reacted strongly with a statement, “This is an illegal strike and we will not hesitate to press charges based on company rules if it goes ahead.”

Source: Nate (1, 2) + akp

Comments

[seungtoria.livejournal.com]

OT, but GORGEOUS icon op

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

Wow, good for them for standing up. But is there any chance that this strike will do anything?

[twinkystar16.livejournal.com]

don't think so..they've been on strike since earlier last year

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

mmmm, that's what I figured. It's sad to hear that they can't fight something like that, but I guess that's politics

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

TIL, they truncate in SK. Or, they don't know how to round. One of the two....

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

it would be good if there was some progress made but i doubt that will happen anytime soon.

meanwhile, i'll try not to kill myself waiting for the final episode of hahaxhongchul battle.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

So there is such a thing as labor union in SK! Fighting!! Go for it! Even if it doesn't work, it's a right and people need to use it more in SK.

So how does this affect you?
... This kind of comments just piss me off. I think people can bloody wait for their next episode/tv show if it means people getting better work conditions.

[asth77.livejournal.com]

wow... Well fighting!!

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I hope this can make a change.