The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Sun, January 24, 2021 | 11:38
English Teachers Establish Labor Union in Incheon
Posted : 2009-12-08 18:16
Updated : 2009-12-08 18:16
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

A labor union comprised of native English teachers working for a language institute or "hagwon" has been established in Incheon, a legal expert on labor representing them said Tuesday.

This is the second teachers' union, said Jung Bong-soo. The first one was established in 2005 in Gangam, southern Seoul, according to the Ministry of Labor.

Jung said five native English teachers at a private language institute in Incheon were given approval to establish the union by a ward office on Nov. 24.

The union, headed by Evan Lloyd from the United States, has nine members, he said. Native English teachers belonging to the institute are eligible to join, he added. The union head was unable to be immediately reached for comment.

A pattern of "unlawful" behavior by the employer - unpaid overtime and threats of dismissal - drove them to unionize, Jung said.

The five founding members decided to set up the union after the employer forced them to work 40 hours per week rather than 30 hours stipulated in their contract.

"Under the contract, the employer is supposed to pay an overtime rate of 15,000 won per hour. But the employer paid nothing," Jung told The Korea Times in a phone interview. "In response to complaints about the unpaid overtime, the employer even verbally threatened to fire one of the five, who was a woman."

They visited Jung's office, KangNam Labor Law Firm, in southern Seoul in early September for consultations, leading to an investigation by a state labor inspector.

"The inspector acknowledged the teachers were forced to work additional hours without proper compensation and ordered the employer to pay," he said.

That ruling, however, was not good enough for them because their relations with the employer turned sour with one of the five being laid off. The dismissed teacher plans to file a petition with the Ministry of Labor for her reinstatement.

"The other teachers involved in the dispute also fear similar retaliatory action," Jung noted.

The expert refused to identify the language institute in question to protect the unionized teachers from further retaliation.

Yoo Mi-young, the labor inspector in charge of the case, said: "The number of petitions of this kind brought up by native English teachers here is on the increase."

Ahn Kyu-seok, a spokesman for the Korea Immigration Service, said: "Their activities aimed at protecting and boosting their right as legitimate employees will be guaranteed by law, but any activities with political purposes will be prohibited as stipulated in the Immigration Law."

A total of 22,905 foreign nationals are here on E-2 English teaching visas as of Oct. 31 this year, according to the Ministry of Justice. Of them, 134 overstayed their visa, the ministry said.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr









 
WooriBank
 
  • New Year brings despair
  • Pakistani man killed during TikTok video stunt on train track
  • From 'America first' to 'Earth first'
  • Inexcusable deaths of children in Korea
  • North Korea sees talks as way to advance nuclear program, says US intel official
  • Balance of Joseon royal court interpreted through contemporary design
  • [INTERVIEW] AMCHAM chief says more chemistry to come between Korea, US
  • Growing number of businesses seek to tap into EV battery waste
  • LG's value to improve with mobile biz restructuring: analysts
  • 'Choose - I kill you or rape you': Abuse accusations surge in Ethiopia's war
  • [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO] [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO]
  • Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location
  • National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint
  • Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny
  • HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright