Loud Voice of Labor Groups

▽Labor Groups Leverage Growing Voice

Fully charged by the Roh Government`s pro-labor stance, labor groups are calling on the government to reduce working hours, improve working conditions for non-regular workers, acknowledge muscle and bone diseases as job-related illnesses and ensure the three workers` rights for government employees, clouding the outlook for the government-labor relations this fall.

The metal workers federation under the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions already said that it would push for a general strike on June 18 after a vote set for June 9 through 13, unless the individual negotiations with the management currently sought by 96 metal labor unions produce little outcome.

The Joint Manufacturing Workers Campaign comprising members of both KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions said on May 14, ˝We will go on a general strike next month unless the government agree to introduce the five-day work week system without degrading working conditions.˝

The joint campaign added that its 1,800 unions will launch individual negotiations with the management to call for reduction of working hours, apart from the labor-business executive talks now underway at the National Assembly.

The Public Coalition, formed by five public-sector labor unions including the Public Alliance, the Korean Teachers` Union and the Korean Civil Servants` Union, has recently decided to provide support if one of its five unions go on a strike.

KTU and KCSU plan to put up on a vote whether to launch a boycott and go on a strike on May 16 and on May 22 and 23 respectively. Apart from the individual moves, the Public Coalition is also set to launch a campaign next month if the government makes a move to privatize the railway corporation again.

Some contracted workers facing about similar working conditions with truck workers are also threatening to take a collective action, citing the principle of fairness.

▽Not Pro-Labor Government?

Warning KCWF of an imminent crack down, the government at one time seemed to take a hard stance against the collective action, but it has soon succumbed to the federation. The Ministry of Labor, in fact, met with officials at KCTU to discuss how to solve the crisis.

˝The government has not implemented a single pro-labor policy so far,˝ Minister of Labor Gwon Gi-hong countered the criticism that the government takes side with the labor. ˝The ministry only serves as a mediator to improve unfair labor-management relations.˝

He emphasized that the government would continue sticking to the principle of promoting discussions and reconciliation to address due labor demands on amendments of unfair regulations while taking a hard stance against those violating the law.

˝The business is creating a chasm and feud within the society by making a groundless argument that the deal with KCWF was due to the pro-labor government stance,˝ said KCTU on May 15 in a statement.

˝Although it was in a critical situation facing snowballing economic losses, the government`s pro-labor stance is most likely to backfire by creating too an upbeat mood among labor groups,˝ said a researcher at the Korea Labor Research Institute.

˝We just can`t continue giving every time there is a negotiation with labor unions,” the labor ministry has also begun feeling pressure.

Kyung-Joon Chung news91@donga.com