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Subcontracted South Korean electronics workers need your support in their struggle to regain their jobs and win decent work conditions from their employer, Kiryung Electronics. After a 67-day hunger strike that ended in mid-August, workers continue to insist the company rehire those it fired three years ago for organizing a union.

The workers make satellite radios that Kiryung sells to Sirius Satellite Radio in the U.S.

Kiryung employs full-time workers alongside temporary “dispatch” workers. The temps, who receive much lower wages, are paid by dispatch agencies rather than Kiryung. They make a penny above minimum wage and work 60-70 hours a week.

Three years ago Kiryung temporary employees, most of whom are women, sued the company for illegally using the dispatch agencies to create a second-class workforce. The Korean Ministry of Labor ruled in their favor, and riding on that victory, they formed a local of the Korean Metalworkers Union.

Kiryung promptly set up surveillance in the plant and tried to bust the union by firing those involved in organizing. When the company refused to hire the temporary workers full time, 200 union members went on strike. Kiryung fired all of them.

Since then, the workers have conducted a fierce campaign to win back their jobs. Earlier this year, they thought they had reached a tentative agreement with Kiryung to guarantee full-time employment, but the company backed out.

The workers decided to escalate with a hunger strike, launched in June. Thirty-five strikers started the campaign, and by mid-August the last two were carried to the hospital, where they vowed to carry on the hunger strike.

Kiryung argues that the manufacturing line will be moved to China and thus it cannot re-hire the workers. These workers need your solidarity and messages of protest to Kiryung and to its buyer, Sirius. Email . Protest to Kiryung by fax, 82-2-864-1672, or .

For supporting messages to the workers, email .