It is now clear, however, that the Incheon International
Airport Corporation (Airport Corporation) is seeking to criminalize the strike
as illegal and carry out a strategic plan to break the union.
An on-site investigation carried out by Democratic Party
National Assembly members on November 6 confirmed that on October 28, Airport
Corporation representatives held a meeting with contracting companies managers
at which they presented a six-step plan for breaking the union.
This plan consists of the following steps: 1) Airport
Corporation publically labels the strike illegal; 2) Airport Corporation
demands that contracting companies ‘replace’ the workers who play leadership
roles in the strike, 3) Contracting companies fire these workers; 3) Use delay
tactics should the union use legal avenues to challenge unfair labor practices;
4) Make efforts to induce remaining union members to leave the union; 5)
Eradicate the union.
Following the meeting, the Airport Corporation sent a
memorandum to each contracting company explaining its plan to label the strike
illegal and then official ask the companies to “replace” union leaders and
members. Contracting company managers have also sent letters to the union
referring to the strike as illegal and threatening disciplinary actions against
strike participants. One contracting company has already begun transferring
union members out of their original posts to less favorable positions.
The National Assembly members also confirmed that another
meeting with contracting companies was held on November 5, during which Airport
Corporation representatives told contracting company managers, “Companies that
cannot stop workers from participating in the strike will have their contracts
cancelled” and then announced their plans to “only contract with non-union
companies in the future.”
The Airport Corporation has also been working with contract
companies to train replacement workers to use during the strike in clear
violation of the law.
That the Airport Corporation, a public institution running an
airport ranked best in service globally for 8 consecutive years, is engaging in
this sort of union busting is outrageous. Sadly, it is in keeping with the
trend of worsening public sector labor repression in South Korea since the
start of the Park Geun-hye administration. Following the de-registration of the
public Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) last month, the Korean
government has now sent instructions to the heads of public institutions
demanding they revise collective bargaining agreements to drastically limit
union activities – a clear violation of the right to independent collective
bargaining between labor and management. At the same time, the government is
blatantly ignoring countless recommendations and urgent interventions from the
ILO calling for the correction of such violations. It is clear that Park
administration has declared war against public sector unions.
The KPTU Incheon Airport Regional Branch, however, refuses to
back down in the face of repression. They will continue with their next strike
action, planned for November 11, and are readying themselves for the prolonged
fight ahead.
This
article can be found online at:
--
임월산 (Wol-san Liem)
국제국장
민주노총 공공운수노조.연맹
민주노총 공공운수노조.연맹
kptu.intl@gmail.com
Director of International Affairs
Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers' Unions (KPTU)
Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers' Unions (KPTU)
