By Jhoo Dong-chan
A local court has ruled it was fair for Cheil Industries, a Samsung affiliate, to ban the company's labor union from using the company's intranet for union activities.
The Seoul Central District Court Wednesday dismissed the union's request to lift the ban on the company.
Cheil Industries prevents the labor union from using the intranet to send workers emails encouraging them to join the union or to promote union activities. Uploading text or photos about the union's activities on the intranet's bulletin board is also prohibited.
The union asked the court to stop the company's move, saying it infringes on the union's rights.
The court said if the union is allowed to use the intranet for its activities without the company's approval, the intranet could be used excessively by the union and thus the company's use could be limited.
"Also, considering that most contact now takes place via Internet, phone calls or in person, there is no reason for the union to insist on using the intranet," it said.
The union claimed it needed the intranet because Cheil prevented its members from distributing printed materials, but the court rejected the claim. The union also requested to remove the company's restriction on employees' using the union's website during office hours--the court also rejected this.
Workers at Samsung Everland, the predecessor of Cheil Industries, established the first trade union in the Samsung Group in 2011 and joined the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the umbrella union of the nation's metal workers, in 2013.
A local court has ruled it was fair for Cheil Industries, a Samsung affiliate, to ban the company's labor union from using the company's intranet for union activities.
The Seoul Central District Court Wednesday dismissed the union's request to lift the ban on the company.
Cheil Industries prevents the labor union from using the intranet to send workers emails encouraging them to join the union or to promote union activities. Uploading text or photos about the union's activities on the intranet's bulletin board is also prohibited.
The union asked the court to stop the company's move, saying it infringes on the union's rights.
The court said if the union is allowed to use the intranet for its activities without the company's approval, the intranet could be used excessively by the union and thus the company's use could be limited.
"Also, considering that most contact now takes place via Internet, phone calls or in person, there is no reason for the union to insist on using the intranet," it said.
The union claimed it needed the intranet because Cheil prevented its members from distributing printed materials, but the court rejected the claim. The union also requested to remove the company's restriction on employees' using the union's website during office hours--the court also rejected this.
Workers at Samsung Everland, the predecessor of Cheil Industries, established the first trade union in the Samsung Group in 2011 and joined the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the umbrella union of the nation's metal workers, in 2013.
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