SPC Paris Baguette Union, 5.6% Wage Increase Agreement for Bakers

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[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] It has been reported that the PB Partners Labor Union, the bargaining representative union of Paris Baguette franchise bakery workers, has reached a '2022 Wage and Collective Agreement' with the company, including an average 5.6% increase in base salary.

According to the PB Partners Labor Union under the National Food Industry Labor Union Federation affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on the 20th, the main points of the newly signed wage and collective agreement include an average 5.6% increase in base salary, an increase in employee welfare points and discount limits, and an additional one-year extension of statutory parental leave (one year).

In particular, by establishing a system for additional use beyond the statutory parental leave period, the union expanded the Maternal Protection Act to better support female bakery workers, who represent a relatively high proportion of the workforce.

Additionally, PB Partners plans to operate a labor-management consultative body twice a month to regularly monitor and ensure that all bakery workers at franchise stores nationwide can systematically use the current average of 8 days off per month.

Jeon Jinwook, chairman of the PB Partners Labor Union, said, "Despite the difficult business environment, we have reached a meaningful agreement with the company that includes wage increases and expanded welfare benefits. We will continue to strive to enhance workers' rights and do our best to promote mutual development between labor and management."

PB Partners is a subsidiary established in 2018 by directly employing Paris Baguette bakery workers. Over the past four years, it has led efforts to create a stable employment environment by increasing wages by a total of 44.8% and continuously improving welfare levels.

Meanwhile, the Paris Baguette branch of the minority labor union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Korean Federation of Textile, Chemical, and Food Industry Workers’ Unions, which has secured about 200 members, is continuing illegal strikes against the company. Rather than focusing on improving workers' treatment and rights, it is concentrating on demands such as individual bargaining rights and time-off systems necessary for the union leadership's survival and maintenance.

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