CINA blog has two stories of note on two suicides that highlight the problem about the high level of economic inequality and systemic brutality experienced by irregular workers and self-employed venders in South Korea.
The first is from a rally by striking irregular construction workers in Incheon on Sunday where one worker immolated himself in protest. As well documented on this site, the struggles of Korean construction workers have been some of the most difficult and intense of the last few years. In addition, and unlike action in other sectors as reported below, there remains complete government inaction here.
The second, comes after the brutal clearance of vendors in the city of Goyang, by hired thugs and city officials. The VOP international new site has a story on the repression there and CINA follows up with a few extra pictures from other sources.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Industrial unionism chalking up gains fast
Here is a news brief from the PSI international union about the recent gains made in the Korean medical sector, where industrial level negotiations have led to mass 'regularization' of irregular workers, agreements on equal pay for equal work for those not yet included in such agreements, and the establishment of new sectorial tripartite committees to work on solving the problem of irregular and to further enshrine industrial collective bargaining rights and practices.
The Korean Health & Medical Workers Union (KHMU), a PSI affiliate, and the Korean Health & Medical Employers Association (KHMEA) signed the 2007 collective agreement on 19th October. The 2007 collective bargaining has attracted social attention and public concern in terms of finding a collective solution to the problem of irregular workers.
KHMU leadership led by Chung Hae-sun, first vice-president (substitute for president Hong Myung-ok who is hospitalized due to health problem) and KHMEA negotiation group led by Lee Sung-shik (director of Sowha Children Hospital) participated in the signing ceremony. Since the 2007 CBA between KHMU and KHMEA at industrial level was agreed on 6 July at industrial level, supplementary bargaining at local (hospital) level have been concluded up to now.
In the CBA, KHMU and KHMEA agreed that wages should be increased by 4.0~5.3%, and that 1.3~1.8% out of the wage increase rate be spent in improvement of working conditions of irregular workers and eliminating relevant discrimination against them.
Since the July agreement, 2,384 irregular workers (involved in full-time jobs) working in 67 hospitals have gained the status of regular workers. Around 80% of irregular workers directly employed by the hospitals have become permanent workers. In addition, 1,541 irregular workers in 42 hospitals are covered by the CBA article of non-discrimination saying “non-irregular workers who do the same job as regular workers do shall be applied with the same wage and working conditions”. Also, working conditions and treatment of 1,285 irregular workers in 11 hospitals have been improved.
Since the July agreement, the proportion of irregular workers in KHMU-unionized 150 hospitals has dropped from 20.4% to 16.8%. In private university hospitals, it is estimated that 1.8% out of 5.3% wage increase has been used for improving the status and conditions of irregular workers, requiring 3.23 billion won (USD 35.8 million).
After the signing ceremony, KHMU is planning to discuss the matters of follow-up policy for irregular workers and effective operation of industrial bargaining in ‘National Labor-Management Council’ and ‘Special Committee on Irregular Workers’ established by the CBA. Also, KHMU is going to urge the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Labor to participate in ‘National Tripartite special Committee for Hospital Sector’ which was also agreed in the CBA.
In the successful conclusion of 2007 collective negotiation, KHMU is supposed to focus on developing union strategies on wage, employment, public heath system as bargaining agenda of industrial unionism. On the other hand, KHMU is preparing for various events celebrating its 10th anniversary as industrial union such as publication of the 10th anniversary white book and picture reports, holding of international conference on heath system and working conditions of hospital workers (26 February, 2008), and organizing of national workshop on industrial unionism.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Metalworker's union embraces migrants
From today' s Hankyoreh:
[Editorial] Metalworkers union’s embrace of migrant workers
The metalworkers union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) [as opposed to the metalworkers union under Hanguk Nochong] has decided to include migrant laborers as union members. This is something that gets your attention. Yesterday, the union’s central committee decided to conduct a comprehensive field study of migrant workers in workplaces under KCTU membership. The idea is to look into their pay and other working conditions, and see what obstacles they face in joining unions. The metalworkers union has already changed its organizational rules to allow migrant workers to join as full members, and allot a certain ratio of union positions to them.
Having migrant workers be part of the union will not only lead to improvements in the poor working conditions they face, but will also play a big role in building up the union’s negotiating power. The case of the union branch at Samu Precision Industries is a good example of how embracing migrant workers helps both Korean and migrant workers. The company had only 41 Korean union members. However, the place became a “union shop” in July, meaning that everyone becomes a member of the union when they become employees, which led to 22 migrant laborers becoming members of the union. This in turn led to significant improvements in the conditions faced by migrant workers there, and they came to enjoy more stable employment. The union’s negotiating power grew a lot as well when everyone became members.
Migrant workers in Korea still do not have the right to form labor unions. In 2005, approximately one hundred migrant workers in the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon region filed the paperwork for forming a regional union, but the Ministry of Labor rejected their application. A court later sided with the workers, but the ministry has appealed and the case is awaiting a final decision from the Supreme Court. Even if they get a legal regional union, however, it will be hard for them to operate at and around actual worksites. This is why it is so significant that a union specific to an industry is trying to directly embrace migrant workers.
There are 480,000 migrant laborers working in our country right now, 3.2 percent of all paid laborers. Before you even realized it, their numbers have grown to the point where they are a pillar of our economy. Treating them in a manner consistent with internationally and universally recognized labor norms is important not only in terms of civil rights, but something also needed to make for more efficient labor. There remain some workers who have a negative view of migrant laborers, saying they are stealing jobs. However, the work that is actually being done is different, so the competition is not serious and it should be remembered that the poor treatment they receive is a factor that works against the pay levels of Korean workers. Also, it is time that employers, for their part, be proactive about improving treatment for migrant workers, as a way to increase productivity.
[Editorial] Metalworkers union’s embrace of migrant workers
The metalworkers union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) [as opposed to the metalworkers union under Hanguk Nochong] has decided to include migrant laborers as union members. This is something that gets your attention. Yesterday, the union’s central committee decided to conduct a comprehensive field study of migrant workers in workplaces under KCTU membership. The idea is to look into their pay and other working conditions, and see what obstacles they face in joining unions. The metalworkers union has already changed its organizational rules to allow migrant workers to join as full members, and allot a certain ratio of union positions to them.
Having migrant workers be part of the union will not only lead to improvements in the poor working conditions they face, but will also play a big role in building up the union’s negotiating power. The case of the union branch at Samu Precision Industries is a good example of how embracing migrant workers helps both Korean and migrant workers. The company had only 41 Korean union members. However, the place became a “union shop” in July, meaning that everyone becomes a member of the union when they become employees, which led to 22 migrant laborers becoming members of the union. This in turn led to significant improvements in the conditions faced by migrant workers there, and they came to enjoy more stable employment. The union’s negotiating power grew a lot as well when everyone became members.
Migrant workers in Korea still do not have the right to form labor unions. In 2005, approximately one hundred migrant workers in the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon region filed the paperwork for forming a regional union, but the Ministry of Labor rejected their application. A court later sided with the workers, but the ministry has appealed and the case is awaiting a final decision from the Supreme Court. Even if they get a legal regional union, however, it will be hard for them to operate at and around actual worksites. This is why it is so significant that a union specific to an industry is trying to directly embrace migrant workers.
There are 480,000 migrant laborers working in our country right now, 3.2 percent of all paid laborers. Before you even realized it, their numbers have grown to the point where they are a pillar of our economy. Treating them in a manner consistent with internationally and universally recognized labor norms is important not only in terms of civil rights, but something also needed to make for more efficient labor. There remain some workers who have a negative view of migrant laborers, saying they are stealing jobs. However, the work that is actually being done is different, so the competition is not serious and it should be remembered that the poor treatment they receive is a factor that works against the pay levels of Korean workers. Also, it is time that employers, for their part, be proactive about improving treatment for migrant workers, as a way to increase productivity.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
E-Land/Newcore workers occupy Ministry of Labour
While scanning the MOL site for some documents earlier today I found this short article. I haven't heard much lately on the Newcore and KTX struggles except that some grassroots unions are dismayed that there hasn't been more solidarity. There seems to be a cycle to these things were the larger unions/union militants promise a much larger mobilization than happens in the end.
New Core workers occupy labor office
A small group of unionized workers at New Core Co. occupied the office of the Seoul branch head of the Labor Ministry yesterday afternoon, protesting against the prolonged deadlock in the conflict surrounding nonregular workers.
Shortly after storming into the office in downtown Seoul, the outlet union released a statement, vowing to continue their protest until the government scraps the revised law on nonregular workers and takes more responsibility to solve the dispute.
"After launching the strike in June, we've done our best for the early resolution of the situation, but the company and the government have not showed sincere attitudes to our desperate demands," the statement said.
Police asked for voluntary dispersal of unionists occupying the office. Some 250 more unionists from New Core were demonstrating outside the building to support the illegal occupation.
By Ahn Hyo-lim
(iamhyol@heraldm.com)
New Core workers occupy labor office
A small group of unionized workers at New Core Co. occupied the office of the Seoul branch head of the Labor Ministry yesterday afternoon, protesting against the prolonged deadlock in the conflict surrounding nonregular workers.
Shortly after storming into the office in downtown Seoul, the outlet union released a statement, vowing to continue their protest until the government scraps the revised law on nonregular workers and takes more responsibility to solve the dispute.
"After launching the strike in June, we've done our best for the early resolution of the situation, but the company and the government have not showed sincere attitudes to our desperate demands," the statement said.
Police asked for voluntary dispersal of unionists occupying the office. Some 250 more unionists from New Core were demonstrating outside the building to support the illegal occupation.
By Ahn Hyo-lim
(iamhyol@heraldm.com)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Movement against Disabled Discrimination
From Voice of the People
New movement for disabled just starts
Solidarity Against the Disabled Discrimination launched 5th Sep.
by Suh Jeong Hwan
Solidarity Against Disabled Discrimination in South Korea opened the ceremony for its establishment in 5th Sep., Gwanghwamun while the government-led ceremony for Disabled People's International World Assembly was held at the same time. It was the first program of the 'Days for disable people in action'.
It took three years for SADD, the united progressive organizations for the disabled people's right, to be launched and that was the time of tearful struggle.
The comittee for establishing SADD occupied the subway rail to demand convinient and safety measures for disbled after one of them met the death from a fall in the subway station.
As one serious disabled man who can't move by hiself died but wasn't found for a long time, the members of the committee took various acts to introduce the supproting system for disable's moves.
Kim Okjin, the chairwoman of the Solidarity for the Educational Right of Disabled, addressed that she couldn't participated to the DPI World Assembly though she was invited. "I hope to be with you, my comrades struggling for the human right of disabled people like my son rather than to be a guest in the brilliant cereomny" Mrs. Kim said.
SADD criticized that the government was proud that it enacted the Prohibitionla Law against Disabled Discrimination while it was them that had struggled to push the law but not the government itself.
SADD stated that belows should be carried out to improve the disable's human right and the NGOs in SADD would keep struggling to make it.
-Increasing the budget for disabled people from recent 0.29 percent of GDP to 2.5 percnet like other countries in OECD.
-The disable's pention.
-The quater of public rent apartment.
-The social responsibilities for sopporting system for disable's moves.
SADD are going to open conferences, exhibitions, festivals, assemblies and etc for three days.
New movement for disabled just starts
Solidarity Against the Disabled Discrimination launched 5th Sep.
by Suh Jeong Hwan
Solidarity Against Disabled Discrimination in South Korea opened the ceremony for its establishment in 5th Sep., Gwanghwamun while the government-led ceremony for Disabled People's International World Assembly was held at the same time. It was the first program of the 'Days for disable people in action'.
 |
| △The disabled people join the ceremony for the establishment of SADD ⓒJun Munsu, Voiceofpeople |
It took three years for SADD, the united progressive organizations for the disabled people's right, to be launched and that was the time of tearful struggle.
The comittee for establishing SADD occupied the subway rail to demand convinient and safety measures for disbled after one of them met the death from a fall in the subway station.
As one serious disabled man who can't move by hiself died but wasn't found for a long time, the members of the committee took various acts to introduce the supproting system for disable's moves.
Kim Okjin, the chairwoman of the Solidarity for the Educational Right of Disabled, addressed that she couldn't participated to the DPI World Assembly though she was invited. "I hope to be with you, my comrades struggling for the human right of disabled people like my son rather than to be a guest in the brilliant cereomny" Mrs. Kim said.
SADD criticized that the government was proud that it enacted the Prohibitionla Law against Disabled Discrimination while it was them that had struggled to push the law but not the government itself.
SADD stated that belows should be carried out to improve the disable's human right and the NGOs in SADD would keep struggling to make it.
-Increasing the budget for disabled people from recent 0.29 percent of GDP to 2.5 percnet like other countries in OECD.
-The disable's pention.
-The quater of public rent apartment.
-The social responsibilities for sopporting system for disable's moves.
SADD are going to open conferences, exhibitions, festivals, assemblies and etc for three days.
 |
| △Disable's tents in front of the Sejong Cultural Holl where the 'Days for disabled people in action' is going in ⓒJun Munsu, Voiceofpeople |
 |
| △Disabled people moving on the crossroad. ⓒⓒJun Munsu, Voiceofpeople |
Sunday, September 16, 2007
More on the E-Land Struggle
From a reader:
At 1 AM on the night of Sunday Sept. 16 over 100 strikers of the E-Land/Homever stores in South Korea occupied a store in the Seoul suburbs, hoping to shut down Sunday shopping. The strike has been going on for 2 1/2 months and has been losing momentum. If you have not seen the video about the strike, watch it here [English Subtitles]. [You can also watch a video of the arrests here].
The riot police showed up at 3:00 AM and arrested about70 workers staging the occupation, and arrested more strikers and supporters outside.
Further attempts at disrupting stores are planned for the coming week, just prior to Chusok) holiday, a major shopping day.
Rain Sunday afternoon partially prevented a shutdown of a major Homever store at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, as well as the fact that over 100 strikers and supporters were already under arrest. Riot police and military (mobilized draftees) were out in force, as were a group of about 100 privately outsourced thugs. They greatly outnumbered demonstrators, and as of 6 PM Sunday no confrontation had occurred.
Background on the Strike
This is one of the most important strikes in South Korea in years. Even though it involves only 1000 workers at 60-odd stores around the country, it is viewed by the government and the capitalists as a test of the new, Orwell-named "Casual Worker Protection Law" that went into effect on July 1. If the E-Land workers are defeated, it will be open season on hundreds of
thousands of other casual workers who can be laid off at will.
To show the importance the Korean government accords to the strike, on July 20 it send 7000 cops, soldiers and private thugs to roust and arrest 200 workers occupying one of the E-Land stores.
If you wish to make a financial contribution to the struggle, send it to Oh Min Gyu, the organizer of the Casual Workers' Union. Send it to account number 470302-01-178901
Kookmin Bank
South Korea
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
UNI coverage of E-Land struggle
The UNI Commerce worker's union has been doing some great reporting on the E-Land strike. You can read the latest here. Also, here are some photos from the latest store picket actions and a video with English subtitles in which E-Land workers discuss working for E-Land, the struggle for labour rights, and the history of the company (thanks, CINA).
Friday, August 31, 2007
MWFF in the Hankyoreh
Here's a link to a story by Jenny Na on this year's Migrant Worker Film Festival, enjoy.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
E-Land struggle continues, latest news
Here's the latest on the E-Land struggle, courtesy of the UNI commerce union page:
Last Saturday, E.Land workers blocked the entrance to the company's Pyongchon store, as part of the union's Zero-Sale campaign. Despite physical confrontations with riot police and thugs hired by the company as so-called strike breakers, the workers' campaign will continue.
- Is it right to terminate non-regular workers' contracts whenever the employer wants it? This was the text on the workers' banner. Their opinion is that this is not right, and the new law on protecting non-regular workers supports this view. The problem is that the law is flawed and some employers such as E.Land have never intended to apply it, using its many creepholes instead.
For the first time ever, Korean trade union confederation KCTU held an extraordinary Congress last weekend, to express its solidarity and support for the E.Land workers. The support will be concrete - a special fund was established to help the striking shop workers survive the long struggle.
These shop workers, who are mainly young women, have been on strike for two months already. Recently, their plight was further aggravated by their employer, who locked out all union members from four of their largest stores. This targeted lock-out, which is against all principles of fair labour relations, aims at forcing an end to the workers' struggle.
The E.Land workers' strike followed the company's announcement of mass dismissals targeted at its non-regular workers, who were supermarket cashiers, sales personnel and other retail employees. Instead, their jobs were to be outsourced, to allow E.Land to avoid giving them permanent employment contracts after two years of service, as required by a new law.
The two month long struggle has seen a close cooperation between the employers and the Korean government, with the aim of crushing the strike and destroying the E.Land workers' trade union. Heavily equipped riot police has physically put an end to sit-in strikes and workers have allegedly been harassed at police stations.
Workers should keep quiet and accept management decisions...
Other Korean employers are applauding from the sidelines. The Korea International Labour Foundation quotes Mr Kim Sang-ryul, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on its website:
- A company leader has the right and duty to find ways to more efficiently run human resources. It is hard to understand employees demanding that management withdraw a decision by holding illegal demonstrations, Mr Kim has allegedly said at a business meeting.
- Some parts of Korean society seem to think that a company that converts non-regular workers into regular workers is “virtuous,” whereas a company that does not is “vicious,” the vice chairman said. Enforcement of the law designed to protect non-regular workers does not necessarily mean companies should change the status of all such workers, he said.
This is a rather peculiar interpretation of a law which the employers' organisations have participated in putting in place. It also raises serious questions about whether the Korean economy is developed enough to be able to compete freely on the global markets. Quite apparently, much work is still needed to bring the country's employers into the twenty-first century.
Actually, many large employers - both public and private - have found ways of regularising large amounts of non-regular workers. This includes also commerce employers. The resistance of Mr Park Song-suu and his E.Land chain can in fact signify that in addition to a bad attitude, the company may be seriously squeezed by banks who financed last years huge takeover of Carrefour's Korean operations.
Employers and government cooperate in union busting effort
Until now, international calls for the company and the Korean authorities to give up their shady union-busting cooperation and to sit down at the negotiating tables to find a solution to the E.Land conflict have not lead to any reactions. The Director General of the International Labour Organisation has written to the labour minister, demanding the government to act to release seven jailed trade union representatives, but apparently to no avail.
The E.Land conflict can be long. The workers and their trade union organisations are determined and will not allow E.Land's money to make the difference. This is why a Fund has been set up, to make sure that the 800 E.Land workers that are on strike or locked out because of their union membership can keep the roof over their heads and continue to feed their families.
UNI Commerce continues to support
UNI Commerce and its affiliates are doing their share to support the E.Land workers. US commerce affiliate UFCW, as well as the communications workers' union CWA have already contributed, as well as German UNI affiliate ver.di. The Nordic commerce unions are also participating in the effort, and have been financing important UNI Commerce project activities in the country for many years.
UNI Commerce
articles and pictures
on E.Land workers'
fight for their jobs
Last Saturday, E.Land workers blocked the entrance to the company's Pyongchon store, as part of the union's Zero-Sale campaign. Despite physical confrontations with riot police and thugs hired by the company as so-called strike breakers, the workers' campaign will continue.
- Is it right to terminate non-regular workers' contracts whenever the employer wants it? This was the text on the workers' banner. Their opinion is that this is not right, and the new law on protecting non-regular workers supports this view. The problem is that the law is flawed and some employers such as E.Land have never intended to apply it, using its many creepholes instead.
For the first time ever, Korean trade union confederation KCTU held an extraordinary Congress last weekend, to express its solidarity and support for the E.Land workers. The support will be concrete - a special fund was established to help the striking shop workers survive the long struggle.
These shop workers, who are mainly young women, have been on strike for two months already. Recently, their plight was further aggravated by their employer, who locked out all union members from four of their largest stores. This targeted lock-out, which is against all principles of fair labour relations, aims at forcing an end to the workers' struggle.
The E.Land workers' strike followed the company's announcement of mass dismissals targeted at its non-regular workers, who were supermarket cashiers, sales personnel and other retail employees. Instead, their jobs were to be outsourced, to allow E.Land to avoid giving them permanent employment contracts after two years of service, as required by a new law.
The two month long struggle has seen a close cooperation between the employers and the Korean government, with the aim of crushing the strike and destroying the E.Land workers' trade union. Heavily equipped riot police has physically put an end to sit-in strikes and workers have allegedly been harassed at police stations.
Workers should keep quiet and accept management decisions...
Other Korean employers are applauding from the sidelines. The Korea International Labour Foundation quotes Mr Kim Sang-ryul, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on its website:
- A company leader has the right and duty to find ways to more efficiently run human resources. It is hard to understand employees demanding that management withdraw a decision by holding illegal demonstrations, Mr Kim has allegedly said at a business meeting.
- Some parts of Korean society seem to think that a company that converts non-regular workers into regular workers is “virtuous,” whereas a company that does not is “vicious,” the vice chairman said. Enforcement of the law designed to protect non-regular workers does not necessarily mean companies should change the status of all such workers, he said.
This is a rather peculiar interpretation of a law which the employers' organisations have participated in putting in place. It also raises serious questions about whether the Korean economy is developed enough to be able to compete freely on the global markets. Quite apparently, much work is still needed to bring the country's employers into the twenty-first century.
Actually, many large employers - both public and private - have found ways of regularising large amounts of non-regular workers. This includes also commerce employers. The resistance of Mr Park Song-suu and his E.Land chain can in fact signify that in addition to a bad attitude, the company may be seriously squeezed by banks who financed last years huge takeover of Carrefour's Korean operations.
Employers and government cooperate in union busting effort
Until now, international calls for the company and the Korean authorities to give up their shady union-busting cooperation and to sit down at the negotiating tables to find a solution to the E.Land conflict have not lead to any reactions. The Director General of the International Labour Organisation has written to the labour minister, demanding the government to act to release seven jailed trade union representatives, but apparently to no avail.
The E.Land conflict can be long. The workers and their trade union organisations are determined and will not allow E.Land's money to make the difference. This is why a Fund has been set up, to make sure that the 800 E.Land workers that are on strike or locked out because of their union membership can keep the roof over their heads and continue to feed their families.
UNI Commerce continues to support
UNI Commerce and its affiliates are doing their share to support the E.Land workers. US commerce affiliate UFCW, as well as the communications workers' union CWA have already contributed, as well as German UNI affiliate ver.di. The Nordic commerce unions are also participating in the effort, and have been financing important UNI Commerce project activities in the country for many years.
UNI Commerce
articles and pictures
on E.Land workers'
fight for their jobs
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
zero-sales struggle
I'm back, and will slowly start to post more. In the meantime, here are two posts updating the E-land struggle and the 'zero-sales struggle' the union has launched against E-Land. One is from the UNI commerce union page, the other from CINA. CINA also has some pics from Sunday's Migrant Trade Union rally. As I start to pick through more information, I'll update what I can.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
E-Land struggle, out of town
I'm out of town at the moment (visiting near Montreal and Toronto) and not near regular internet connection so I've fallen behind in updates about the E-land struggle and other current issues. I'll be back to regular posting by the 20th, however, if I get time I'll try to do what I can. At the moment, the labourstart newswire at the bottom left is a good source on the E-Land and other labour issues. Seems that their second sit-in, see below, was broken up but that more are planned. As for other issues, hopefully the links off this site and on the newswire can guide readers till I return.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
KMWU strike consolidates gains toward industrial unionism
To answer the question I posed on tuesday: a qualified yes.
From the Korea Times:
Unionized metal workers ended their weeklong strike yesterday after management agreed to increase minimum wages and consult with labor before making any decisions that could affect job security.
In their 10th round of meetings, the Korean Metal Workers' Union and representatives of industry management agreed to set this year's minimum monthly wage at 900,000 won ($985), an 8 percent increase from last year. The new wage applies to all employees, including temporary and migrant workers.
The KMWU had originally demanded 936,000 won, which is about half the average wage of the entire industry workforce.
The management also agreed that companies would notify labor unions about plans for mergers, divestitures or disposals at least 70 days before execution and seek the union's consent.
The companies also promised to provide fair terms to subcontracting firms.
Under the accord, the two sides will also set up a joint committee on securing employment within the metal industry.
From the Korea Times:
Unionized metal workers ended their weeklong strike yesterday after management agreed to increase minimum wages and consult with labor before making any decisions that could affect job security.
In their 10th round of meetings, the Korean Metal Workers' Union and representatives of industry management agreed to set this year's minimum monthly wage at 900,000 won ($985), an 8 percent increase from last year. The new wage applies to all employees, including temporary and migrant workers.
The KMWU had originally demanded 936,000 won, which is about half the average wage of the entire industry workforce.
The management also agreed that companies would notify labor unions about plans for mergers, divestitures or disposals at least 70 days before execution and seek the union's consent.
The companies also promised to provide fair terms to subcontracting firms.
Under the accord, the two sides will also set up a joint committee on securing employment within the metal industry.
More, here.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Can Korean workers break out of enterprise unionism?
A recent article in the Korean Times explores this topic. Though the editorial slant is a bit reactive, the article is worth a read to get a sense at the initiative towards industrial unionism in South Korea.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Update on E-Land struggle
The UNI Global Union, which represents commercial workers worldwide, has started up a site dedicated to and with with plenty of updates on the Eland struggle. Including video from local TV of the raid on Homever workers at worldcup stadium, and a longer series of videos from the union itself. It's pretty emotional stuff to watch, violent police action in a supermarket makes for especially jarring video. 
The Hankyoreh has also run detailed story on the sit-in, police reaction, and solidarity given to the struggle by progressives. You can find the link to that here.
The Hankyoreh has also run detailed story on the sit-in, police reaction, and solidarity given to the struggle by progressives. You can find the link to that here.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Police raid E-Land Sit-in
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
New story on labour law at Interlocals
Below is my attempt to summarize what has been going on with the controversy around the new labour law to date. Interlocals has been attracting a bit more attention recently as its founder Oiwan Lam has been in the news for taking on the Hong Kong Television and Licensing Authority. The story broke in Boing Boing last week, thanks to a poorly spelled item suggestion by yours truly (now more in the world will know about my bad spelling!), and was followed up on in the following days more and more.
South Korea: Labour strife escalates as new labour law comes into effect
Jamie Doucette
Interlocals.net
On July 1st South Korea's new Law on Non-Regular Work came into effect. The principle of the law was to protect non-regular workers, but in practice the way in which it has been put together and implemented has led to protection only for a few and increased precariousness for many.
The law was a long time in the making, and the original plan was to involve all parties -- unions, business, and government -- in the drafting process of the bill. However, very early on the tripartite process broke down, with the progressive Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) pulling out of the process when it became clear that the law would only lead to the expansion of casual, contingent, contract and temporary forms of work.
The tripartite commission did not attempt attempt to assuage the worries of the KCTU but instead rushed through an agreement on the bill with the support of the more conservative Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). The bill was passed amidst heated protest in the late fall of 2006 and came into effect on July 1st.
After the bill was passed, the government as well as some larger firms announced that they would be regularizing several thousands of employees that had been employed with non-regular contracts. However, in the lead up to the July 1st deadline, it was found that numerous private employers as well as the government itself had been laying off non-regular workers or forcing them to sign short term contracts (in some cases 'zero' work term contracts that would allow employees to be layed off on the spot if need be).
A recent article in Korea's left-liberal daily The Hankyoreh highlighted some of these abuses, reporting that recent union surveys (carried out by both the KCTU and FKTU) had found cases of lay-offs, re-assignment or other unfair hiring practices at firms across all sectors, from hospitals and postal delivery to banking and construction.
For example, the Hankyoreh reports that, "According to the FKTU, which conducted its own inspection by visiting 56 companies between July 4-22 [sic], the Korea Expressway Corporation is currently moving to outsource its 2,000 non-regular workers and Korea Post, Korea’s postal service, also plans to replace its 3,000 letter carriers, delivery people and postal workers with workers from temporary agencies. Both companies are state affiliates."
Other investigations by the Hankyoreh itself and other investigators have found similar practices at other firms.
[Image courtesy of Voice of the People]
It is no surprise that in the midst of these practices, labour strife has heated up as the new law has come into effect. The most prominent case in the media so far has been the case of retail workers at the Homever and New Core department stores owned by Korea's E-land group. There, mostly female cashiers have staged sit-ins that have drawn wide scale support protests and boycotts as well as attention from police who have sealed off E-Land's stores. Public support for the struggle and outcry over the E-Land's hiring practices intensified after civic groups were able to uncover that the company had forged documents to avoid regularizing employee's contracts. The government has since stepped in to mediate the strike but has yet done nothing to support the workers demands for regular status.
In addition to the strikes at E-Land and Homever, female workers from the KTX, Korea's high-speed rail system, began a hunger strike on July 2nd to protest their employer and the government's continued refusal to meet their demands for gender equality, safe working conditions, and job security. The KTX workers have been on strike since March 2006 and have also faced police action against them, even as the government's own National Human Rights Commission has stated that KORAIL must redress its 'gender discriminative employment structure.'
What is interesting about the latest round of strikes over non-regular work is that they have been largely undertaken by the female workforce that has been the target of both unfair practices and labour restructuring policies. This has led many in the grassroots Korean labour movement to hope that their activism can lead to a renaissance in female-led trade unionism -- women workers by and large led Korea's nascent democratic trade union movement in the late seventies with heroic strikes in textile and light manufacturing sectors. Korea is more well known for the image of militant blue collar unionists in heavy industries, but these unionists would probably not have made the gains they began to achieve in the late eighties and early nineties if were not for the groundwork and networks laid for them by the previous generation of female unionists and activists.
This time, however, whether or not the irregular workers movement and its strong female leadership expands and makes concrete social gains may depend on the solidarity extended to them from the large union confederations, who now carry significantly more power than they did decades ago. Support here needs to include not just lip service to the plight of irregular workers, but concrete changes to union structure that have been recommended by grassroots labour groups, such as stronger voting rights for irregular workers and a greater participatory role for them (as well as migrant workers) in policy formation.
Jamie Doucette, July 17, 2007
Images 2 and 3 are from KTX workers site linked above.
South Korea: Labour strife escalates as new labour law comes into effect
Jamie Doucette
Interlocals.net
On July 1st South Korea's new Law on Non-Regular Work came into effect. The principle of the law was to protect non-regular workers, but in practice the way in which it has been put together and implemented has led to protection only for a few and increased precariousness for many.
The law was a long time in the making, and the original plan was to involve all parties -- unions, business, and government -- in the drafting process of the bill. However, very early on the tripartite process broke down, with the progressive Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) pulling out of the process when it became clear that the law would only lead to the expansion of casual, contingent, contract and temporary forms of work.
The tripartite commission did not attempt attempt to assuage the worries of the KCTU but instead rushed through an agreement on the bill with the support of the more conservative Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). The bill was passed amidst heated protest in the late fall of 2006 and came into effect on July 1st.
After the bill was passed, the government as well as some larger firms announced that they would be regularizing several thousands of employees that had been employed with non-regular contracts. However, in the lead up to the July 1st deadline, it was found that numerous private employers as well as the government itself had been laying off non-regular workers or forcing them to sign short term contracts (in some cases 'zero' work term contracts that would allow employees to be layed off on the spot if need be).
A recent article in Korea's left-liberal daily The Hankyoreh highlighted some of these abuses, reporting that recent union surveys (carried out by both the KCTU and FKTU) had found cases of lay-offs, re-assignment or other unfair hiring practices at firms across all sectors, from hospitals and postal delivery to banking and construction.
For example, the Hankyoreh reports that, "According to the FKTU, which conducted its own inspection by visiting 56 companies between July 4-22 [sic], the Korea Expressway Corporation is currently moving to outsource its 2,000 non-regular workers and Korea Post, Korea’s postal service, also plans to replace its 3,000 letter carriers, delivery people and postal workers with workers from temporary agencies. Both companies are state affiliates."
Other investigations by the Hankyoreh itself and other investigators have found similar practices at other firms.
[Image courtesy of Voice of the People]
It is no surprise that in the midst of these practices, labour strife has heated up as the new law has come into effect. The most prominent case in the media so far has been the case of retail workers at the Homever and New Core department stores owned by Korea's E-land group. There, mostly female cashiers have staged sit-ins that have drawn wide scale support protests and boycotts as well as attention from police who have sealed off E-Land's stores. Public support for the struggle and outcry over the E-Land's hiring practices intensified after civic groups were able to uncover that the company had forged documents to avoid regularizing employee's contracts. The government has since stepped in to mediate the strike but has yet done nothing to support the workers demands for regular status.
In addition to the strikes at E-Land and Homever, female workers from the KTX, Korea's high-speed rail system, began a hunger strike on July 2nd to protest their employer and the government's continued refusal to meet their demands for gender equality, safe working conditions, and job security. The KTX workers have been on strike since March 2006 and have also faced police action against them, even as the government's own National Human Rights Commission has stated that KORAIL must redress its 'gender discriminative employment structure.'
What is interesting about the latest round of strikes over non-regular work is that they have been largely undertaken by the female workforce that has been the target of both unfair practices and labour restructuring policies. This has led many in the grassroots Korean labour movement to hope that their activism can lead to a renaissance in female-led trade unionism -- women workers by and large led Korea's nascent democratic trade union movement in the late seventies with heroic strikes in textile and light manufacturing sectors. Korea is more well known for the image of militant blue collar unionists in heavy industries, but these unionists would probably not have made the gains they began to achieve in the late eighties and early nineties if were not for the groundwork and networks laid for them by the previous generation of female unionists and activists.
This time, however, whether or not the irregular workers movement and its strong female leadership expands and makes concrete social gains may depend on the solidarity extended to them from the large union confederations, who now carry significantly more power than they did decades ago. Support here needs to include not just lip service to the plight of irregular workers, but concrete changes to union structure that have been recommended by grassroots labour groups, such as stronger voting rights for irregular workers and a greater participatory role for them (as well as migrant workers) in policy formation.
Jamie Doucette, July 17, 2007
Images 2 and 3 are from KTX workers site linked above.
A note on the title photo
The image on the left is a minjung painting of Lee Han Yeol, who was killed by a tear gas canister during the 1987 democratic protests. Minjung stands for the masses, or the people, and the minjung movement is another name for the Korean democracy movement. Lee Han Yeol can be regarded as heroic martyrs of the democracy struggle. The picture on the right is a satirical "post-minjung" artwork that mimics the portrait on the left. It was used as a critique of neoliberal reforms undertaken during the DJ and Roh governments: governments which emerged from the democracy movement. The youth in the photos are wearing the Korean national soccer team jersey, and one has been hit in the head, ostensibly, after a night of partying. The picture seems to be saying something about how the heroic struggles of yesterday have been replaced by sports nationalism and consumer spectacle. The photo in the middle is a painting by artist Yoo Chang Chang that represents a sense of fragmentation. Here it loosely signifies the transformation of Korean society and politics from the minjung movement to the present.
More on the new labour law from the Hankyoreh
From today's Hankyoreh
Labor unions expose unfair hiring practices: Companies under investigation say inspection results were exaggerated
A couple of weeks into the introduction of a controversial law designed to improve working conditions for non-regular employees, labor activists argue that many local companies are rushing to remove previously contracted workers from their payrolls. Businesses maintain that the new law may add more financial burden on them. --> Link.
Meanwhile, the Hankyoreh also has the latest on the E-Land struggle here.
Also, it seems that the KTX workers, who are still on hunger strike, have created a blog, in English, of their own, which the two images you see here are from. Here's the link. At the moment, they have an emergency petition there that you can sign.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Crucifying irregular workers?
An illustrated column from the Hankyoreh entitled: A backhanded bargain.
Caption: The company E-Land fashions itself as a Christian enterprise. However, it has just laid off over 900 of its non-regular workers so as to avoid treating them better as the law requires.
Most of those being laid off are employed by Homever and New Core, E-Land affiliates.
E-Land, in observation of its work, feels called to prayer before crosses to which its workers have been nailed: “Save us, dear Lord, through mass layoffs.”
[Update, July 13: seems that it has recently come to light that E-land has been using phoney documents to avoid regularizing its workers, read more here.]The struggle at E-Land is continuing amidst the usual police presence and threats from government and management. Meanwhile, the Hankyoreh has reported on the history of bad practices at E-Land affliates Homever and New Core.
Observers have said that one of main reasons for worsening labor relations at E-Land is that the management has not, in essence, acknowledged the union’s existence.You can read the full story here.
In 1997, the E-Land union walked off their jobs for 57 days because the union has not reached any collective bargaining agreements with the management for over 4 years since the union was first formed in 1993.
In 2000, the union staged strikes for 265 days, demanding that management improve working conditions for temporary workers. At that time, the Ministry of Labor asked a court to issue an arrest warrant against E-Land founder and chairman Park Songs on charges of conducting unfair labor practices. Despite several requests, Park did not respond to the warrant while staying overseas. The labor disputes have continued to deepen as Park travels overseas whenever there are important events in labor-management relations, union officials say, referring to him as the final decision maker of the management. Park is reportedly out of the country now.
Labor tension was aggravated when E-Land acquired New Core stores in 2003 and Carrefour stores in 2006. Choi Ho-seop, a union official, said, “There has always been friction as management has not honored its agreements with the union.” According to the Ministry of Labor’s May inspection reports on Newcore department stores, the management has violated 10 labor law provisions.
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