Labor Trends – Labor InFocus

The FKTU plans to focus on a revision of the Trade Union Act (TULRAA) and the Labor Standards Act at the regular session of the National Assembly in September. In addition, they plan to make an issue of labor disputes at the workplaces such as the Renaissance Seoul Hotel, and seek ways to increase the government subsidy for labor organizations and reorganize the labor-management cooperation fund.

<Table 1> FKTU demands regarding revision of the TULRAA

1. Delete work duties eligible for time-off
2. Delete the penalty regulation of unfair labor practice in relation to wage payment to full-time union officials
3. Exclude non-enterprise unions from the regulation of unifying bargaining channel
4. Allow to separate bargaining units voluntarily, based on agreement between labor and management

Meanwhile, the new leaders of the KCTU plan to complete its structural re-form by the late August and then focus on preparation for parliamentary inspection. In particular, KCTU will focus on such issues as ▲ non-regular • in-house subcontract work (Hyundai Motor Company, E-mart, Samsung Electronics Service, Incheon International Airport Corporation), ▲ layoffs (Ssangyong Motor Company), ▲ industrial accidents (Hyundai Steel, Samsung Electronics) during the parliamentary inspection. In addition, the KCTU plans to begin working-level talks with the government on workplaces with prolonged labor conflicts, while gearing up for labor strife during the second half of the year.

<Table 2> KCTU plan for labor struggle in August & September

Date	Details
8.19	• Press conference declaring nation-wide labor strife (Gwang Hwa Moon)
8.24	• Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) rally against Samsung Electronics Service (In front of Samsung Electronics HQ located in Seocho) • Rally protesting against the Park Geun-hye administration (Seoul Station) • Nation-wide rally by the KPTU opposing the privatization of KTX (Seoul Station) • Nation-wide rally regarding the Ssangyong Motors issue (Seoul Station)
8.27	• Rally for full-scale labor action by the Korean Health & Medical Workers’ Union (KHMU) (88 Stadium)
8.31〜9.1	• 2^nd Hope Bus (In front of Hyundai Motors factory in Ulsan)
9.7	• Rally for simultaneous full-scale nation-wide labor struggles (In front of Saenuri Party offices across the nation)

2. Labor dispute trends in major companies

■ Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Motors and its trade union failed to reach an agreement due to excessive demands made by the trade union. KMWU Hyundai Motors branch demanded an 800% increase in bonuses and an extension of the retirement age to 61. The trade union and management negotiated 17 times after the opening of collective bargaining on May 28. The Hyundai Motors union finalized their plan for strike action at the meeting held on August 19. Of special note is the prediction of a joint strike held by the trade unions of both Kia Motors and Hyundai Motors, as the Kia Motors trade union has adjusted their schedule to match that of the Hyundai Motors union.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Motors Hope Bus team is seeking to spotlight the issue of its in-house subcontract workers by staging a ‘2nd Hope Bus’ rally (8.31~9.1), even though the non-regular workers branch stopped its crane-top protest on August 8.

■ Samsung Electronics Service

The KMWU Samsung Electronics Service branch is demanding that the primary contract firm (Samsung Electronics Service) employ subcontracted workers directly. Membership with the KMWU at the Samsung Electronics Service branch reached 1,368 (as of August 10) with potential membership approximately 10,000. The trade union is demanding that the company: ▲employ in-house subcontract workers directly; ▲agree to comply with the labor laws; ▲allow the KMWU to participate in central-level bargaining; and ▲guarantee trade union activities.

■ 120 Seoul Dasan Call Center

The Hope Union affiliated with the KCTU is threatening to go on a strike if the Seoul city does not employ the call center workers directly. Two out of the three companies (Hyosung ITX and MPC) who dispatched their employees to 120 Dasan Call Center have entrusted their collective bargaining to the KEF.

<Table 3> No. of work days lost

Type	As of July 31	Same period last year
Number of labor disputes Work days lost	27 cases 132,536 days	55 cases 381,989 days

<Table 4> Settlement of wage negotiations

Type	As of July 31	Same period last year
Wage increase rate Wage bargaining settlement	4.0% 40.5%	5.1% 38.6%

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