1. FKTU to focus on resolving pending labor issues
The FKTU held a meeting with representatives of industrial unions on April 10 to develop strategies for negotiation with the Time-off Deliberation Committee. The FKTU is planning to finalize these demands by the end of April and conclude negotiations in late June. For this, the FKTU has launched a ‘Special Committee’ composed of four task force teams to deal with the current labor issues including time-off limit. The FKTU has traditionally set up the strike headquarters, but this year the FKTU seems to focus more on negotiation than strikes. Through negotiation of the time-off issue, President Jin-Kook Moon of the FKTU hopes to obtain as many positive outcomes as possible ahead of the next FKTU presidential election (scheduled for January 2014).
Meanwhile, this summer is expected to be a difficult period for businesses, as the time-off issue is expected to remain unresolved, while summer struggle and demands for a higher minimum wage are expected by labor.
<Table 1> FKTU Special Committee
|
① T/F team for 5 major policies
(Revision of the Trade Union Act / Prohibition of discrimination toward non-regular workers / Retirement age extension to 60 / Increase of minimum wage / Reduction of working hours).
② T/F team for time-off
③ T/F team for on-site backup and restructuring
④ T/F team for social dialogue
|
2. KCWU demands revision of related laws with cargo transportation business
The Korean Cargo Workers’ Union (the KCWU) under the KCTU held a regular convention on April 6 to discuss major activities and its budget for 2013. Specifically, the KCWU decided to focus on building friendly relations with the opposition parties with the aim of revising laws such as the Act on the Collection, etc. of Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, the Labor Standards Act and the Truck Transportation Business Act. The KCWU also decided to focus on legislation of the standard freight charge system, predicting that increasing transportation fees would be difficult due to the decreasing amount of cargo and the minimum tendering system.
|
Struggles against government
|
‧ Get recognized as workers.
‧ Expand the scope of the Industrial Accident Compensation scheme to include independent workers.
‧ Legislate a standard freight charge system.
|
|
Struggles against management
|
‧ Ban the minimum tendering system ▴Increase transportation fees.
|
|
Strengthening organizational capacity
|
‧ Organize a Task Force within the KCWU designed to strengthen its organizational abilities.
‧ Increase the presence of activists at the regional level.
|
While the KCWU is planning a series of strikes during September and November demanding revision of laws, they are expected to face difficulties due to the worsening of its financial condition and diminished organizational capacity.
3. Labor to engage labor strife on issues of non-regular and in-house subcontract workers
On April 12, the non-regular workers’ branch of the KMWU requested joint-bargaining with the employers of subcontractor companies, demanding job security, wage increases and legitimization of trade union activities. Meanwhile, MOEL (the Ministry of Employment & Labor), is conducting a labor inspection of subcontractor companies to determine whether they comply with the Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety & Health Act and the Trade Union Act.
At the same time, labor and civic groups plan to make an issue of illegally-dispatched workers and non-regular workers, relating to the incident which occurred at the KIA Motors factory in Gwangju. On April 16, a trade union official of an in-house subcontract workers’ union attempted to commit suicide by setting himself on fire. He demanded that the company turn all in-house subcontract workers into regular workers. Labor and civic groups are expected to hold a press conference and candlelight protests related to this issue.
As labor prepare for struggles in relation to this incident, KIA Motors is expected to have difficulties carrying out its plan to increase automobile production.
4. Management and labor in metal industry gearing up for 2013 central level bargaining
The Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) and Korea Metal Industry Employers Association (KMIEA) began 2013 central level collective bargaining on April 16.
<Table 3> 6 Major KMWU Demands for 2013 Central Level Bargaining
|
‧ Increase the minimum wage in metal industry to 5,910 KRW (US $5.32) per hour, and 1,235,190 KRW (US $1,112) per month
|
|
‧ Introduce a monthly wage pay system
|
|
‧ Extend the retirement age higher than the age of eligibility for the National Pension
|
|
‧ Abolish unfair trade practices between primary contractors and subcontracted firms
|
|
‧ Expand the scope of collective bargaining to include in-house subcontract workers
|
|
‧ Grant regular employment status to non-regular workers who continue to work for their employer
|
The KMWU is also seeking ways to increase the number of workplaces participating in central level bargaining, which has been declining in recent years. In particular, the KMWU and its affiliated regional branches are planning to hold rallies to urge companies to participate.
<Table 4> Number of Workplaces Participating in Central Level Bargaining
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
104
|
101
|
92
|
76
|
72
|
72
|
With the upcoming KMWU leadership election in the 2nd half of 2013, the KMWU is seeking to conclude central level bargaining before the summer holidays. However, as major car manufacturers have implemented a daytime 2-shift system, collaboration with the car manufacturer unions is expected to be weakened due to a lack of common interest.