Health and Medical Workers' Union and Government Reach Dramatic Agreement Early Morning of the 2nd... Union Calls Off General Strike

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum (right) and Na Soon-ja, Chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, are leaving after holding a separate meeting following the 13th practical labor-government consultation between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health and Medical Workers' Union, held on the 1st at the Health Institution Evaluation and Accreditation Service in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the government reached a dramatic agreement in the early hours of the 2nd, just five hours before the planned general strike, leading the union to withdraw the strike scheduled for that day. With a sudden agreement on expanding public healthcare and medical personnel and improving working conditions, the worst-case scenario of a medical vacuum amid COVID-19 was avoided.

The KHMU and the Ministry of Health and Welfare held the 13th round of practical labor-government negotiations from 3 p.m. the day before the strike, and after an 11-hour marathon negotiation, reached an agreement in the early hours of the strike day. Initially, the KHMU planned to announce the strike decision around 11 p.m. the previous day, but internal discussions prolonged, and the announcement was finally made after 2 a.m.

Both sides confirmed that protecting the lives and health of the people from COVID-19 and establishing a robust infectious disease response system are social responsibilities to be solved together, and evaluated that they reached a meaningful agreement on building an infectious disease response system, strengthening public healthcare, and resolving issues related to healthcare personnel.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said, "Both the Ministry and the KHMU shared the common goal and understanding that we must protect the lives of the people and ensure patient safety, which made it possible to prepare an agreement through dialogue and communication." He added, "Since this agreement was prepared after 13 rounds of long discussions, the Ministry will also sincerely consult with related ministries and the National Assembly regarding the agreed matters."

KHMU Chairperson Na Soon-ja stated, "In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for one year and eight months, healthcare workers who have sacrificed and devoted themselves to treating and caring for COVID-19 patients have deeply discussed expanding healthcare personnel, improving working conditions, enhancing labor rights, and improving treatment so that they can care for patients in better working environments." She added, "With today's dramatic labor-government agreement, the sector-wide general strike prepared by the KHMU is withdrawn."

The KHMU, with about 80,000 members, had 56,000 members apply for dispute mediation this time. Among them, excluding essential personnel working in emergency rooms, intensive care units, delivery rooms, and neonatal units, it was estimated that about 30% would participate in the general strike, but with the agreement reached by both sides, a medical vacuum was avoided.

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