"Chairman, Can't Attend Agreement Ceremony" Democratic Labor Union Members Block Tripartite Agreement

Chairman Kim Myunghwan Blocked by Over 100 People at Work Arrival
Entered Central Executive Committee Meeting Room
Clashed with Executive Members Amid Loud Shouting

On the morning of the 1st, at the Central Executive Committee meeting held at the Federation of Korean Trade Unions in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Myung-hwan, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and others are waiting for the meeting to start.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] After 22 years, a 'complete social agreement' involving all parties of labor, management, and government was reached after much difficulty, but the signing of the agreement was ultimately canceled due to internal conflicts within the 전국민주노동조합총연맹 (Minju-cho).

About 100 members of the Minju-cho, including the Metal Workers' Union under Minju-cho and the irregular workers' coalition 'Byeongijeok Ije Geuman,' gathered at the Minju-cho headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul from 8 a.m. on the 1st. They used physical force to block the signing ceremony, claiming that Kim Myung-hwan, the Minju-cho chairman, was pushing the labor-management-government agreement without the consent of all members. They are demanding Kim’s resignation and the cancellation of the agreement.

Previously, Minju-cho held a Central Executive Committee (Jungjip) meeting from the 29th for two days to discuss ratification of the labor-management-government agreement. However, until the day before, hardliners opposed the agreement, preventing a conclusion. Chairman Kim convened the Jungjip again from 9 a.m. that day to gather final opinions, but fierce debates continued as hardliners opposed it, and the ratification ultimately failed.

Outside the meeting room, irregular workers' union members held placards reading "Immediate resignation of Kim Myung-hwan, the capital’s henchman," and "Scrap the labor-management-government collusion that kills workers," continuing their protest. They also entered the meeting room where the session was held, raising their voices, asking, "Can you ratify the labor-management dialogue without members' consent?" Some executives responded by telling them to leave the room, leading to loud exchanges between both sides. Some members urged, "The chairman is no longer the chairman. Declare the cancellation of the labor-management-government agreement and resign immediately." A Metal Workers' Union official pointed out, "If the agreement was good, the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) would have no reason to accept it," adding, "The entire agreement proceeded without internal consent."

The agreement prepared by labor, management, and government included declarative content related to employment retention, expansion of social safety nets, corporate support, and public healthcare infrastructure expansion. The exclusion of clauses prohibiting layoffs or 'wage cuts or freezes,' which labor demanded, sparked internal opposition within Minju-cho. A Minju-cho official said, "As employment instability for irregular and subcontracted workers worsens, the absence of clauses like layoff prohibition in the agreement was seen as a significant setback."

Meanwhile, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a Central Executive Committee meeting the day before and decided to accept the provisional agreement as originally proposed. Kim Dong-myeong, chairman of KCTU, said, "Although insufficient and regrettable, today's agreement is not the end but a starting point," adding, "Now we must end the one-point social dialogue and shift to social solidarity and action."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.