Labor struggle brewing over time-off rule

By Lee Hyo-sik

Staff reporter

Unions are moving toward a head-on clash with the government and management after the controversial "time-off" system designed to trim the number of full-time unionists went into effect Thursday.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), among others, is vowing to stage an all-out struggle to defeat the scheme, which sets the legal basis for paying union leaders when they take time off from their regular work to perform union duties.

The government and business organizations are urging the labor groups to abide by the revised Labor Act, which slashes the number of full-time paid union leaders, warning that those who break the law will face harsh punishment.

According to the Ministry of Labor, more than 100 businesses employing over 100 workers nationwide renewed agreements with their unions ahead of the introduction of the time-off system.

But the majority of large companies have not been able to sign a revised collective agreement on the number of full-time union officials.

Even among those who have reached an agreement, many companies are suspected of having agreed to secret deals to maintain the number of full-time union leaders in a bid to avoid potential labor-management conflicts.

To protest the time-off scheme, unions at several companies affiliated with the KCTU have already begun staging walkouts, with many more moving to go on strike in the coming days.

They include unions at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, Hyundai Hysco and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

Last Friday, Kia Motors' unionized workers overwhelmingly voted to go on strike over management's refusal to pay wages to full-time union officials. About 71 percent or 27,528 union members supported the strike proposal at its factories in Soha-ri, Gyeonggi Province.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), a radical faction of the KCTU, said 81 of its member unions reached an agreement on the issue with management as of June 30.

"Negotiations are still ongoing at the rest of the workplaces. As stated in collective agreements, our member unions will continue to exercise all labor rights. If our demands are not met, we will organize a nationwide strike," KMWU spokesman Kang Ji-hyun said.

Kang said the KMWU will hold a general meeting of union representatives next Tuesday to discuss measures to counter the time-off system and other pending matters.

"At the meeting, we will decide how and when to go on strike. We will also instruct our members to demand a wage hike and improved working conditions from management."

However, the government and business organizations are warning labor groups against staging any walkouts, saying all organized labor activities in protest of the time-off system are illegal and will be met with appropriate action.

"We are doing everything we can to have the time-off system introduced to all workplaces without a hitch. We have set up a counseling center at branch offices across the nation to help businesses negotiate with unions on the system," Labor Ministry spokesman Park Jong-kil said.

Park said the ministry will also look into local companies' collective agreements concerning the system next month and take strong action against those who keep the number of regular union leaders beyond the legal limit stipulated by the revised Labor Act.

"We will also take strong legal action against labor unions staging illegal walkouts in accordance with the law."

'타임오프' 논란

7월 1일부터 노조 전임자의 수를 대폭 줄이도록 돼 있는 타임오프 시스템으로 정부와 노동조합이 정면 충돌로 치닫고 있다.

민주노총은 이를 무력화하기 위해 전면적인 투쟁을 벌일 계획이라고 밝혔다.

정부와 사용자 측은 전임자 수를 대폭 줄이기 돼 있는 타임오프제를 따르지 않으면 엄한 처벌을 가할 것이라며 노동조합의 협조를 강력히 권고했다.

노동부는 타임오프 시스템이 도입되기 전, 이미 전국 100명 이상의 노동자를 고용하는 100 여 개의 업체는 이미 노동조합과의 이 에 따른 합의를 했다고 말했다.