Ten Days Before the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Delegate Conference... Hardliners Remain Unyielding Despite Leadership Persuasion

On the 2nd, the Central Executive Committee meeting was held at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Jung-gu, Seoul, but the meeting was delayed due to protests by KCTU irregular workers opposing the tripartite agreement. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Ahead of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) emergency delegate conference, which is the last chance for the 'Tripartite Agreement to Overcome the Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19),' the leadership has begun persuasion efforts but is facing opposition from some hardliners.

According to the KCTU on the 10th, the day before, the KCTU held a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to discuss the schedule and method of the emergency delegate conference proposed by Chairman Kim Myung-hwan, as well as the minimum wage. This CEC meeting was the first since the tripartite agreement ratification discussion on the 2nd. At this meeting, Chairman Kim reportedly proposed holding a comprehensive online discussion for the emergency delegate conference on the 20th, followed by an online delegate vote on the 'Tripartite Agreement' on the 21st. The schedule for the emergency delegate conference has not yet been finalized.

Along with this, Chairman Kim and the KCTU leadership have begun efforts to persuade union members to ratify the tripartite agreement. In explanatory materials recently released by the KCTU regarding the tripartite agreement, it stated, "If the final agreement does not receive organizational approval, it will be impossible to establish a framework for future government negotiations for a considerable period, and not only bargaining power but also social and political standing, as well as labor-government consultations of affiliated and subordinate organizations, are expected to suffer serious damage." It further expressed concern, saying, "If this fails, the KCTU’s role in supporting vulnerable groups and workers in blind spots, which was raised as a key task to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, will inevitably be significantly limited."

The KCTU proposed and actively participated in the 'One-Point Tripartite Dialogue to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis.' However, on the 1st, just before the final agreement, some hardliners opposed ratification and did not attend the signing ceremony. Since then, Chairman Kim has proposed holding an emergency delegate conference, stating he would ask the union members.

Within the KCTU, debates over the approval of the tripartite agreement are intensifying. The union of irregular workers, 'No More Irregular Workers,' stated, "If the tripartite agreement passes, mass layoffs will occur not only among irregular workers but also regular workers," and added, "In the COVID-19 emergency situation, urgent livelihood measures demanded by workers, such as a temporary ban on all layoffs and nationwide employment insurance coverage, are completely absent from this tripartite agreement, yet Chairman Kim Myung-hwan is trying to unilaterally push it through by holding an emergency delegate conference under his administration." The Metalworkers' Union and the Public Transport Workers' Union are also reportedly maintaining a hardline stance by opposing the holding of the delegate conference itself.

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