Chair of the Tripartite Commission: "Support for MZ Generation Office Workers' Union... Sympathy for Fairness Demands"

Meeting with Union Representatives... Attendees "Militant Union, Questionable if Reasonable"

The Economic, Social and Labor Council, a social dialogue body directly under the President, held a meeting on the 25th with representatives of labor unions from large corporations, mainly composed of the so-called 'MZ Generation.' Moon Sung-hyun (fourth from the right in the back row), Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, and participants are seen applauding. (Photo by Economic, Social and Labor Council)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Moon Seong-hyun, chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a presidential advisory body for social dialogue, expressed support for labor unions of so-called 'MZ Generation' (born between the 1980s and 2000s) office and research workers in large corporations such as Hyundai Motor Group and promised assistance.

According to ESLC on the 27th, Chairman Moon held a meeting on the 25th at the ESLC main conference room in Jongno-gu, Seoul, attended by 13 representatives of MZ generation young office and research worker unions from Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, Kumho Tire, Korail Networks, and Korea MSD.

At the meeting, Chairman Moon said, "In the past, labor movements during harsh times emphasized struggle because improvements in working conditions were difficult without it, but I empathize with today's young office and research worker unions' demand for communication based on rationality and fairness," adding, "The future labor-management relations should respect the model you are pursuing."

He stated, "I will support and assist the alternative union movement of young office and research workers," advising, "It is a shortcut to solving problems to seek solidarity with existing production worker unions while simultaneously building strength through communication and cooperation within young office and research worker unions rather than approaching on a company-by-company basis." This meeting was organized by ESLC to strengthen communication with MZ generation office and research worker unions spreading mainly in large corporations.

The union representatives attending the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the existing labor movement and explained the background that made it inevitable to organize separate unions.

One participant said, "There was a time when union movements had to be combative, but at this point, I am skeptical whether combative union movements, which require bearing high social costs, are reasonable," and argued, "It is time for the paradigm of union movements to change."

Another participant said, "Office and research workers have suffered from high labor intensity and coercive corporate culture, and have endured double hardships of being neglected in wages and working conditions compared to production workers," adding, "We established the union to receive equal treatment to production workers protected by unions."

The participants also voiced difficulties of office and research worker unions being 'minority unions' overshadowed by production worker unions. Under the current system, minority unions are excluded from collective bargaining and find it difficult to raise their voices for improving working conditions.

One participant urged, "Although we want to communicate with management to create a rational and fair corporate culture together, management is refusing," and called on ESLC to step in so that management can sincerely engage in dialogue.

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