Police officers stand guard at Ssangyong Motor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as smoke rises from a building inside the factory, Friday. Police have been confronting the union members who have occupied a paint shop inside the factory for five days. The labor union and management agreed to hold talks today. / Korea Times Photo by Wang Tae-seok |
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The labor union and management of Ssangyong Motor have agreed to hold talks Saturday morning, raising hopes that the confrontation between the unionized workers and police might end peacefully.
It will be the first direct talks between the two sides in 36 days. The two sides agreed in principle to settle the issue peacefully during a meeting Friday, the 50-day confrontation between the union and police, with governing and opposition party lawmakers arbitrating the talks.
At the tripartite meeting held near the plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, they agreed to have talks in which two representatives from each side and the lawmakers participate. The talk will take place at the plant at the request of the union.
The meeting was attended by Jeong Gap-deuk, head of the Korean Metal Workers Union, Ssangyong union's umbrella union; Ryu Jae-wan, a Ssangyong executive; Rep. Won Yoo-chul of the governing Grand National Party; Rep. Jeong Jang-seon of the main opposition Democratic Party; Rep. Kwon Young-ghil of the minor Democratic Labor Party; and Pyeongtaek Mayor Song Myeong-ho.
It is still unclear, however, if the talks will bear fruit. It remains in doubt as the two sides showed different stances.
The union said it would not stick to the previous demand to hire all the laid-off workers. "Among 2,646 laid-off employees, 1,800 have already chosen retirement. But we demand the company retain the remaining 800, and it will be possible if they work in shifts," Jeong said.
But Ryu stressed that the union should scrap the illegal strike first. He also hinted that the company is unlikely to accept the union's proposal, saying, "Even though the strike ends, the company has a long way to go to avoid bankruptcy."
But he said that management does not want clashes between workers and police. The management also decided to allow doctors and medical staff to enter the plant for treatment to injured unionists.
The prosecution said all the striking workers would face legal punishments unless they scrap the seizure of the plant. "If they withdraw voluntarily, lenient legal actions will be applied except for union leaders. But if they do not, all will face stern measures," a prosecutor said.
The National Human Rights Commission urged police and the company to provide the unionists with medical services and resume water supply to the plant. It also called for police to minimize the use of liquid tear gas and Taser guns.
Some 30 civic group members also urged the government and the management to stop the crackdown and begin talks with the union.
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
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