Hanjin Heavy chief urged to tackle labor disputes
By Na Jeong-ju
Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) Chairman Cho Nam-ho has remained abroad for months despite the firm suffering heavy losses due to a longstanding dispute with the union.
An increasing number of civic groups, politicians and entrepreneurs are calling for Cho’s early return to resolve the labor struggle, which has become a hot political topic. On Friday, even the conservative Grand National Party denounced Cho, saying it will collaborate with opposition parties to summon him for a National Assembly hearing.
Cho was on his 47th day of an overseas business trip Tuesday as labor-management tensions continued at HHIC’s Yeongdo shipyard in Busan.
Citizens and civic groups have formed the so-called “Hope Bus” Campaign in support of Kim Jin-suk, a unionist who has been holding a protest atop a giant crane for about seven months at the shipyard. The union has been protesting the firm’s massive layoffs.
“Chairman Cho holds the key to resolving the dispute, but he has not been here for months,” said Yoon Taek-geun, head of the Busan branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. “That means he is trying to avoid talks with the union. If he keeps hiding, the dispute will continue to escalate.”
Cho went overseas on June 17, right after the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee asked him to appear for questioning in connection with the labor dispute at HHIC.
Three days later, Cho informed the committee that he wouldn’t be able to appear because he was going to be in Japan and Europe from June 17 to July 2. The committee had to cancel a meeting with the chairman.
Since then, more than 40 days have passed, but Cho has yet to return.
Even residents in Busan are complaining of his attitude.
“The local economy has suffered a setback due to the HHIC dispute. Over the weekend, there was even a clash between a group of residents and participants of the Hope Bus rally,” said Oh Dae-jung, a 37-year-old office worker. “Cho should return early and work out a peaceful resolution to the dispute.”