Elementary Care Workers Union 2nd Strike Temporarily Postponed

On the 6th of last month, a press conference for the general strike titled "Full-time Conversion of Part-time Care Workers and Victory in Collective Bargaining" hosted by the National Women's Labor Union was held in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education main gate. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The planned two-day strike by the elementary care workers' union starting on the 8th has been postponed.

The Ministry of Education held an emergency meeting on the 7th with the National Assembly's Education Committee and representatives of the National School Irregular Workers Solidarity to make this decision. The care workers' union, represented by the School Irregular Workers Solidarity, had announced a strike from the 8th to 9th, demanding opposition to the transfer of elementary care to local governments, abolition of the full-day care bill, and improvement of working conditions for dedicated care workers. They had previously conducted a one-day strike on the 6th of last month.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated at the meeting that measures to improve the treatment of dedicated care workers would be prepared by the first half of next year. She also pledged to provide maximum support to help the metropolitan and provincial education offices and school irregular worker organizations reach an agreement on improving care workers' conditions.

Minister Yoo said, "The government will fulfill its responsibility by making financial investments to strengthen the public function of elementary care," adding, "We will prepare measures to improve the operation of school care by linking the reduction of teachers' administrative tasks with the expansion of working hours for dedicated care workers, aiming to improve their treatment by the first half of next year."

Yoo Ki-hong, chairman of the National Assembly's Education Committee, said, "The government and ruling party will promote the full-day care special law currently pending in the National Assembly through thorough consultation with stakeholders," and added, "The National Assembly will also actively play a role to help metropolitan and provincial education offices and unions reach a smooth agreement."

The School Irregular Workers Solidarity announced that while they are postponing the originally planned second strike, "If the education offices do not agree to improvement measures, we will have no choice but to urge problem resolution through strikes again."

The Ministry of Education has been discussing mid- to long-term institutional improvement plans for care operation through the 'Elementary Care Operation Improvement Council,' which includes the Presidential Commission on National Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education, Council of Innovative Education Local Governments, care workers' union, teachers' organizations, and parent organizations.

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