Paris Baguette Franchise Owners' Emergency Committee Launched... "Anger Over Democratic Labor Union's Excessive Protests"

A Paris Baguette store in Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The Paris Baguette Franchisee Association has launched an emergency response committee to counter the protests and boycott campaigns by the bakery workers of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).

On the 24th, the Paris Baguette Franchisee Association stated, "We are outraged by the excessive protests of the KCTU," and announced the formation of an emergency response committee to respond to the protests and boycott campaigns by the KCTU bakery workers.

The emergency response committee is chaired by Lee Junghee, a former president of the Franchisee Association.

The committee explained the background of its launch, saying, "Franchisees who are just trying to recover from the damages caused by COVID-19 are being severely harmed in their business and property rights due to the boycott campaigns by the KCTU and related organizations, putting them in a situation where recovery is difficult. Although they requested legal protection from the government, this was not accepted, leaving the franchisees no choice but to protect themselves."

It continued, "Franchisees have increased the wages of bakery workers by 40% over the past three years, yet the KCTU bakery workers are engaging in malicious violent acts, using innocent small business franchisees as hostages to enforce their demands. More than 3,400 franchisees nationwide will actively respond to protect their business and property rights, as well as the Paris Baguette brand."

The emergency response committee plans to take legal action against infringements on business and property rights by the KCTU and related organizations. It will also inform politicians and stakeholders about the difficulties and damages faced by small business franchisees and emphasize that the demands of the KCTU bakery workers have been faithfully fulfilled so far. If necessary, collective actions such as rallies will also be pursued.

The committee is also considering emergency measures such as refusing services and expanding in-house production if the KCTU and related organizations do not cease their boycott campaigns and brand-damaging activities.

According to the Paris Baguette headquarters, the day before, the group supporting the KCTU bakery workers, called the "Paris Baguette Workers Cheer Up Joint Action" (Joint Action), held one-person boycott protests in front of franchise stores nationwide. The KCTU bakery workers have been continuing sit-ins in front of the company, citing reasons such as the company not honoring social agreements, and have been conducting boycott campaigns of the company's products in solidarity with civic groups.

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