Korean worker protest breaks new record of endurance

In an ongoing dispute, Star Chemical Company in South Korea closed down in early 2013. Some workers rejected the termination package and kept on fighting. Cha Gwang-ho decided to climb one of the company’s chimney’s in May 2014. He is still there, see video, after 10 months, having just broken the previous record of so called ‘chimney occupations’ by workers. Protests by workers like Gwang-ho, and the concurrent one of the Ssangyong workers, have generated much solidarity within South Korea. Nevertheless, his situation is desperate and international solidarity is needed to pressure Starflex, the parent company, to resolve the dispute.

In an ongoing dispute, Star Chemical Company in South Korea closed down in early 2013. Some workers rejected the termination package and kept on fighting. Cha Gwang-ho decided to climb one of the company’s chimney’s in May 2014. He is still there, see video, after 10 months, having just broken the previous record of so called ‘chimney occupations’ by workers. Protests by workers like Gwang-ho, and the concurrent one of the Ssangyong workers, have generated much solidarity within South Korea. Nevertheless, his situation is desperate and international solidarity is needed to pressure Starflex, the parent company, to resolve the dispute.