SPC Paris Baguette Franchise Owners Appeal to Minno Support Group to Withdraw Boycott Protest

Over 3,400 Franchise Stores Nationwide Suffer Unilateral Damage... Withdrawal of Protest Notice Sent
"Allowing Hwasum Union Boycott is Destroying the Livelihoods of Franchise Owners"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As a group supporting bakery workers affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced a protest urging a boycott in front of SPC Paris Baguette franchise stores, SPC Paris Baguette franchise owners appealed for the withdrawal of the protest.

On the 5th, the Paris Baguette Franchise Owners Association sent an official letter to the group ‘Paris Baguette Workers Cheer Up Joint Action,’ which is composed of supporters of bakery workers affiliated with the KCTU, demanding the withdrawal of the announced boycott protest in front of franchise stores.

In the letter, the association stated, “The boycott movement by the Joint Action group is a form of social violence caused by malicious agitation based on unfounded claims of solidarity requests from the KCTU,” and appealed, “Although the issue did not arise from direct conflict with franchise owners, over 3,400 franchise stores nationwide are suffering unilateral damage due to KCTU activities, so we ask that the protest be withdrawn.”

They added, “If an unfortunate incident occurs despite this request, we will have no choice but to take legal action such as filing complaints for obstruction of business and claiming compensation for damages,” and said, “We will also have to take self-protection measures by refusing services from bakery workers affiliated with the KCTU who caused the problem.”

Earlier, the Joint Action group held a press conference in front of the SPC headquarters in Yangjae-dong on the 26th of last month, announcing plans to hold one-person protests in front of Paris Baguette franchise stores nationwide starting from the 9th of this month and to urge a boycott.

Through the letter, the association also refuted the KCTU bakery workers’ claims of non-fulfillment of social agreements. The association said, “Many of the slogans promoted by the Joint Action group, such as guaranteeing a one-hour lunch break and at least six days off per month, do not correspond to the facts,” and added, “Except for the bakery workers’ own choices, a one-hour lunch break and seven to eight days off per month are actually provided.”

They continued, “Over the past three years, we have increased the service fees for more than 40% of bakery workers, and this year, through collective bargaining with the negotiation representatives, we raised the service fee by 590,000 KRW per month,” and said, “We hope people understand the difficulties faced by franchise owners, who are self-employed and have to pay monthly service fees ranging from 4.5 million to 6.5 million KRW during this economic downturn.”

Meanwhile, there is widespread speculation that the KCTU is involved in the Joint Action group’s call for a boycott of SPC products. The Joint Action group created and posted a poster titled ‘Determined to Break Up with SPC Paris Baguette’ on social media to announce and encourage participation in the protest. The Textile Workers’ Union Paris Baguette branch has retweeted many social media posts related to this poster, indirectly encouraging participation.

Jang Inmun, chairman of the Paris Baguette Franchise Owners Association, said, “The Textile Workers’ Union’s failure to stop and its tacit approval of the boycott movement is tantamount to destroying the livelihoods of both bakery workers and franchise owners,” and added, “If they are not involved in the boycott, they should actively discourage the groups that announced the boycott protest.”

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