Korean Air plane cleaners go on strike

Cleaners of Korean Air’s planes demand wage hikes in a strike which began Saturday at Incheon International Airport. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

Workers of Korean Air’s subcontractor in charge of cleaning the airline’s planes went on strike Saturday, calling for improved working conditions.

The subcontractor Korea Airport Service outsources cleaner recruitment to another company, EK Manpower. Korea Airport Service has put into effect an emergency system to prevent setbacks of flight operations.

Around 380 workers for EK Manpower clean 130 planes every day.

Local members of the Korean Public Service union, contract workers branch staged a protest marking the walkout at Incheon International Airport, Saturday.

“We are working a minimum of 12 hours a day, not to mention extended hours, without holidays due to daily plane schedules,” the workers said.

“When flights are delayed, workers are tied up at the airport for 24 hours, working without time for rest.”

The workers said one worker cleans the interior of around 20 planes a day, emptying trash cans, changing seats and blankets and vacuuming the floor _ and if all of these duties are not completed within 20 to 30 minutes _ the airline companies charge penalty fees to Korean Airport Service.

In addition, the workers said the company cut extra pay, stating it was necessary in order to heed to the minimum wage.

They also said gender discrimination exists in pay, as only male workers receive a certain form of bonus.

“We will fight to protect our right to life at the very bottom of multi-level subcontracting,” the workers aid.

The Korean Airport Service said it has secured 170 people to substitute for the workers to prevent any setbacks in flight operation.

“We have had no problems with flight operations yet,” an official said Sunday.

The official explained not all of the 380 workers hired by EK Manpower had gone on strike _ only members of the labor union. He said the scale of substitute workers was sufficient to handle the work.

The strike is set to last until Jan. 5.

The official added Korean Airport Service has nothing to do with the strike.

“The strike is being held due to a fallout of wage negotiations between workers and EK Manpower,” he said.

“We are a subject in the outsourcing contract, but cannot exert any influence on wage negotiations of our subcontractor.”