Customer Service Union's '3rd Strike'... NHIS "Situation Worsens, Must Participate in Dialogue"

Proposal for 'Biweekly Meetings' by Some Members
Union Says "Gongdan's Stalling"... 3rd Full-Scale Strike

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) expressed strong regret over the full-scale strike launched by the customer center union, which is operated under private consignment, demanding direct employment since the 1st of this month. The customer center union is currently engaged in its third strike, just about 10 days after temporarily suspending the first strike in February (lasting 24 days) and the second strike in June (lasting 12 days).

The customer center union held a second strike starting from the 10th of last month, demanding direct participation as members in the ‘Private Consignment Office Discussion Council,’ composed of internal and external experts, to discuss the operational methods of the customer center in accordance with government policy. In response, Director Kim Yong-ik began a hunger strike on the 14th of the same month, which led to the participation of the Health Insurance Labor Union, which had previously refused to join the discussion council. The customer center union was also guaranteed official participation in the council, ended the strike, and returned to work on the 21st.

However, on the 25th of last month, during the fourth meeting of the Office Discussion Council?the first time both unions participated as members?some members proposed holding meetings biweekly instead of weekly as previously held. The customer center union viewed this as "a stalling tactic by the NHIS" and proceeded with the third full-scale strike.

The NHIS stated, "Despite no changes after the customer center union’s single participation in the Office Discussion Council during this difficult dialogue process, the union immediately went on strike again, citing some members’ proposals as an issue, which has worsened the morale among internal staff." It added, "While internal employees opposing any changes to the customer center’s operational methods are being engaged through ongoing dialogues by management visiting regional headquarters nationwide to foster a rational stance, the unilateral resumption of the strike has made the situation more difficult."

Nonetheless, the NHIS expects the Office Discussion Council to continue its schedule regardless of the customer center union’s strike. Planned programs, including internal discussions to broaden NHIS employees’ perspectives on the customer center, will also proceed.

Additionally, to minimize customer inconvenience caused by the strike, various measures such as expanding branch reception of call center calls and postponing the dispatch of notification letters have been implemented.

The NHIS urged, "(The customer center union) should end the strike causing public inconvenience immediately and participate in the hard-won Office Discussion Council to engage in discussions."

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