J. Narayana Rao visits the Korean railroad workers’ rally

* Image Source*
1. Poster for April 25, rally. Korean Railway Worker’s Union
2-7. No Base Stories of Korea

On April 25, 2009, J. Narayana Rao, an Indian peace activist, 36 years India railway worker himself, a staunch labor activist himself before he retired in 1994, currently working for the railway workers' pension and the board member of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space visited the Korean Railway Worker’s Union at the Seoul Station, Seoul(2nd photo).

About 6,500 workers gathered for the protest against the lay-off plan of 5,ll5 among the 30,000 railway workers and the reduction of wages and other benefits, under the South Korean right wing government, Lee, Myung Park. The workers also protested against being handed over the burden of the railway in the Incheon International Airport which has been known to record the minus profit. The workers are ready to show the collected power of workers on May day and the subsequent days against any government policies which victimize them under the decreasing economy system. Famous activist singer, Choi, Do-Eun who married to the railway worker glorified the rally with her powerful songs(6th photo).

J. Narayana Rao was very impressed by the militancy of the workers. He was well greeted by Mr. Kim, Yong Uk, a former Vice-Chairman of the Korean Railway Worker’s Union(3rd photo).

After the rally, he was interviewed by Ms. Jeong, Bo-Yeon, a reporter of the ‘Progressive Politics’, a weekly Korean newspaper published by the Democratic Labor Party, one of the most important progressive parties in the South Korea (middle, 7th photo). The interview included the recent history and situation of the India railroad workers whose pension is at the risk of privatization. He suggested the Korea railway workers to collaborate strong inder the strong centered leardership.