By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Allianz Life Insurance Korea fired 87 branch managers Wednesday for participating in what it called illegal strikes.

A company spokesman said, ``We gave them an ultimatum to return to work by Tuesday. However, only 12 among 99 returned and therefore we are letting the rest go. The 12 will be punished but pardoned for their last minute decision.''

Allianz said it was seeking ways to end repeated strikes that have continued for 113 days. The Korean operation of the German-based company is considering a lockout or withholding salaries of unionists for the strike period, the spokesman added.

Around 800 union members and 167 branch managers joined the strike that started on Jan. 23 this year, opposing the introduction of an incentive system.

The company requested branch managers to refrain from participating in the strike, as they were not union members. However, they refused, and were fired, as the company regulations stipulate that absence without leave for over 15 days constitutes grounds for dismissal.

The unionists denounced the move, citing a Supreme Court precedent that ruled branch managers joining a strike was not illegal.

To get there jobs back, the managers must file a lawsuit against the company to get a reversal of the dismissal, Observers note that their chances of winning the case, however, are very low.

According to a labor ministry official who declined to be named, the law bans staff managing or working directly for a company's profits from joining activities interfering with profit-making activities. ``The branch managers were definitely part of management from a legal point of view and their joining the strike could be a violation of this law,'' he said.

The union is continuing its protest in front of the insurer's head office in Yeouido, Seoul.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr