[Activity Phase 1] After the 1988 trainee strike, organizational activities and the launch of Nominchu

This article is a record of Lee Cheol-ui's life as a railway worker, organizing and struggling. It is also interesting to look into the experiences of others, and it is a precious 'field activity case', so we are serializing [My Activity Diary]. - Editor's NoteTherefore, I am serializing this article in . - Editor's Note 

Lee Cheol-ui (A Freelance Farmer Serving the Pylon Struggle)

"Those who have tasted the bitterness of an organization can advance boldly, solidly,, and courageously." -Spirit Wolf-

Activism is a collective activity that changes structures. To change society, we must engage in social movements,, and to change the country's politics, we must engage in political movements.. To do so, an organization that moves forward without wavering until the goal is achieved is needed. An individual without an organization will eventually be frustrated, no matter how outstanding they are. Previously, during a protest against importing mad cow disease cattle, my youngest daughter asked me. “Some people say that voluntary participation by citizens is more important. What do you think??”,  “If there is no strong organization, this movement will eventually crumble like a bubble..” To change something, build an organization. Therefore, this time I would like to talk about the organizational movements I have experienced throughout my life.

In 1988, after the railway engineer strike ended in failure, I felt wronged and depressed. We went on strike with legitimate demands, but we were beaten one-sidedly.. Engineers had enough empathy and unity, so why did we lose?? After thinking carefully, I concluded that “We lost because there was only a temporary leadership team and no strong organization..”.To build an organization. First, let's form a group to promote union democratization at the site where I am located. The organization we first created with my colleagues is ‘Discussion and Practice Group’.We shortened the name to Tosihui.. At that time, I recruited members without hesitation..

At the founding meeting, only eight people came to a Chinese restaurant.. We contacted about 70 people and recruited one-tenth of them as members.. Tosihui later became the precursor to the election headquarters in our locomotive shed's union branch election and played a central role in branch activities. If we look at their future, there was one detainee and two fired employees, so they grew into good activists..

There were those who saw us moving actively and wrapped me up like an octopus extending its tentacles.. The Railway Democracy Union Struggle Committee(abbreviated as Teominchu), which was active across the entire railway, were those people.. The Teominchu was a secret organization that was passed down like a legend in the railway field at the time.. During the engineer strike, they said they distributed flyers nationwide and moved the leadership team on Line 2.. I had respected seniors and close juniors, so I joined immediately.. When I followed to the first meeting, there was no other world..

Members were singing ‘Fellow Traveler’, ‘Labor Liberation Song’, ‘Anti-War Anti-Nuclear Song’, which was scary and moving.. At that time, I did not know any activists other than farmers' songs.. The organization observed me and said I was good in character and hardworking.. They said they appointed me as a member.. However, my head thickened quickly and my neck became stiff, making me a troublemaker in the organization.. At that time, I was the Chief of the Electric Train Branch of Seoul and the General Affairs Officer of the Detainee Family Support Conference..

In addition, I served as the Director of the Electric Train Section at the National Locomotive Branch Council(abbreviated as Djeonghiep). I was the leader of Tosihui and also prepared the Millefeuille Group with colleagues from the engineer side.. In less than a year of activity, I became the national leadership team of railway mass movements.. However, most members of Teominchu were individual activists without a foundation for mass movements.. But my head was thick and I aimed for labor liberation,, and there were also spontaneous supporters of Sanomung..

I was soon recognized in Teominchu and appointed as the Director of the Policy Office.. Because I had a strong influence on mass organizations, they quickly entrusted me with important responsibilities.. If so, I should be humble or serve the organization's decisions.. I have a personality that always raises objections if I think I am right in any organization or person.. Teominchu faced a great storm because of me..

At the time, I submitted a proposal to the organization saying “Since railways are conducting mass movements centered on engineers,, there is a problem.. We need an activist organization like 'Nominchu' that encompasses all job types..”.But what was this,, all members of the Teominchu leadership team opposed it.. “An organization that covers all job types is sufficient as Teominchu.. Don't do Nominchu; create an activist organization targeting engineers..”, “Teominchu aims for labor liberation?. Isn't there a need for a separate activist organization to promote union democratization??”

We debated fiercely,, but no conclusion was reached, and I remained in the minority.. If I think about it now, I believe my argument was right,, and reality was that they were right.. They claimed labor liberation,, but Teominchu was actually just a Nominchu organization.. I am not the one who left because I was opposed in the organization and got nicknames like ‘Viper’or ‘Wolf’.. I continued to promote Nominchu without wavering with those who agreed.. Teominchu, which believed it had the discipline of iron,, immediately referred me to a disciplinary committee for disobeying the decision..

In the disciplinary committee convened at my colleague's home, I opposed the organization's decision until the end. In my final statement, I said“I believe I am right whether you discipline me or not. I will continue to expand and strengthen the National People's Committee..” Colleagues came to my home to persuade me, and one junior colleague cried,“If you do that, the organization will break apart..”But I responded,“I don't care about that..”Looking back, I seem to be a person with no consideration for others..

In any case, the activist organization of the National People's Committee was launched vigorously, and in exchange, the Iron Miners' Struggle Committee was dissolved as a result. I would like to apologize and express my regret on this page to the comrades who were hurt because I stubbornly insisted at that time. However, I still believe that the choice I made at that time was a politically correct decision. (Continue)