Jeonnam Provincial Council to Take a Tough Stance on Hakbi Union's Collective Action

The Jeonnam Branch of the School Staff Union Protests "Step Over Our Bodies" VS Jeonnam Provincial Council Calls It "Crossing the Line"

The Jeonnam Branch of the School Meal Workers' Union protested in front of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, opposing the budget cuts for kitchen staff and demanding the inclusion of budget for additional staffing.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] As concerns over the resurgence of COVID-19 intensify, the School Irregular Workers' Union (hereafter Hakbi Union) Jeonnam branch has launched collective action protesting wage cuts, escalating conflicts with the Jeonnam Provincial Council.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Council on the 5th, around 20 Hakbi Union members gathered in front of the council entrance at 9:30 a.m. on the 3rd to condemn the council for cutting the budget for kitchen assistants and demanded the restoration of the recruitment budget.

During this process, union members occupied the Education Committee’s standing committee room, lying down on the floor shouting, “We will not stay silent because the budget was cut,” and directed their actions toward council members and staff, saying, “Step over our bodies,” engaging in forceful protests.

They particularly protested strongly against Assemblyman Lee Gwang-il, who led the budget cuts, accusing him of “treating kitchen assistants like cafeteria machines.”

On the 3rd, Assemblyman Lee Gwang-il stated, “Due to the COVID-19 situation, the number of school days has decreased from 190 to 170, and the number of students is also declining, so it is not appropriate to recruit more kitchen assistants,” adding, “Budget should be invested in improving students’ academic performance rather than recruiting kitchen assistants,” and proceeded to cut the budget.

Assemblyman Lee argued, “The provincial education office’s budget has decreased by 227 billion won compared to last year due to reductions in domestic taxes and student numbers, yet personnel expenses account for more than 64% of the total budget,” emphasizing, “It is unacceptable that only 30% of the budget is available for students.”

In response, the Hakbi Union Jeonnam branch posted on their branch SNS the full list and personal contact information of the Education Committee members, including Assemblyman Lee Gwang-il, instructing members to express their anger through protest calls, and took to the streets in Suncheon, Yeosu, Naju, Gwangyang, Mokpo, and other areas holding banners and placards for collective action.

An education sector official commented, “The provincial education office should have submitted the budget after sufficient consultation from the start. It is not appropriate to unilaterally push through labor-management agreements and then shift responsibility to the assembly members,” adding, “The union’s act of leaking personal information of the assembly members to shame them has gone too far.”

Yoo Sung-soo, Chair of the Education Committee, stated, “I planned to mediate considering the union’s position under my authority as chair, but their extreme actions worsened the situation,” and added, “On the 7th, the Education Committee plans to hold consultations and issue a statement as part of a strong response.”

Meanwhile, the Hakbi Union Jeonnam branch has been consistently demanding appropriate staffing for over ten years, and a labor-management agreement on this matter was recently reached. However, after the Jeonnam Provincial Council’s Education Committee cut the budget, the union has been conducting sit-in protests at the Jeonnam Provincial Council and Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education.

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