Firefighters' Union Demands Implementation of 3-Shift 1-Team System

Demand for Improvement of Fire Service Duty System Regulations Including Implementation of 3-Shift 1-Group (On-Duty Rest) System

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Korea Federation of Trade Unions Public Officials Union National Fire Safety Labor Union (Chairman Hong Suntak) held a policy consultation meeting with the National Fire Agency on the 11th, demanding improvements in the working environment of firefighters, such as the implementation of a 3-shift 1-day off system (Dangbihyu) and exemption from fines during emergency fire truck dispatch. They received positive responses from the National Fire Agency, which agreed to proceed with some of the proposals.

The demands of the Korea Federation of Trade Unions Public Officials Union Firefighters' Union include ▲ improvement of work systems such as 3-shift 1-day off (Dangbihyu) or employee-preferred methods (ambulance teams) ▲ promotion of fine exemption during emergency fire truck dispatch ▲ production of protective clothing for rescue activities and improvement of duplication regulations ▲ resolution of cramped office space issues due to workforce increase ▲ implementation of standards for improved performance bonus payment tasks ▲ installation of advanced auxiliary devices to prevent safety accidents during fire truck dispatch ▲ demand for CCTV and other recording devices to introduce a fair and transparent inspection system ▲ measures to resolve delays and abuse in ambulance patient hospital transfers ▲ recognition of overtime work for office workers equal to that of field workers ▲ reconsideration of sit-up tests in firefighter physical fitness assessments, among others.

Chairman Hong Suntak expressed expectations for the meeting, saying, “On January 24, through a win-win communication meeting with Fire Chief Lee Heunggyo, we requested regular labor-management meetings to improve the working conditions of firefighters. We held a policy consultation meeting between the National Fire Agency and labor-management in 2022, and let’s cooperate for a year to produce good results.”

Senior Vice Chairman Kim Taewon (Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Headquarters) stated, “According to a 2021 survey conducted by the National Fire Agency on 35,391 personnel regarding ‘shift work system satisfaction and preference,’ 31,829 people (88.5%) preferred the 3-shift 1-day off (Dangbihyu) or 4-shift 2-day off system. Therefore, we demand the implementation of the 3-shift 1-day off (Dangbihyu) or 4-shift 2-day off system, resolution of cramped office space issues due to workforce increase, and improvement of uniform purchasing methods.”

A National Fire Agency official responded, “We are preparing improvement measures for the shift work system (revision of related regulations) and are doing our best to finalize them as soon as possible. The issue of cramped office space due to workforce increase is being addressed by revising the regulations on the standards for the allocation of the Fire Safety Grant Tax, allowing its use for fire safety grants. The improvement of uniform purchasing methods is being promoted by registering vendors in the welfare mall so that employees can select and purchase uniforms. We will cooperate to resolve the proposals presented by the Korea Federation of Trade Unions Firefighters' Union.”

Attendees included Chairman Hong Suntak (Central Chairman), Senior Vice Chairman Kim Taewon (Gyeongbuk Chairman), Vice Chairman Hwang Seonwoo (Gyeonggi Chairman), Secretary-General Park Seokho (Jeonnam Chairman), and Shin Donggang (Chungbuk Chairman).

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