Unionized government employees have decided to launch a general strike on Monday as previously scheduled despite the disruption of a union vote on the matter.

The spokesman of the 140 thousand-strong Korean Government Employees' Union announced the decision after an emergency meeting late Tuesday night.

The union leadership had planned to seek the approval of rank and file members for next week's general strike in a vote on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The first day of voting, however, was disrupted in the face of a tough police crackdown.

Another round of clashes with the police is expected as the union has also vowed to push ahead with a second day of voting across the nation.

The government workers union is demanding basic labor rights, including the right to collective action, but the government has so far been refusing the demand.