Withdrawal of Sale and Threat of Strike... Strengthened Union Influence in the IT Industry

Kakao Union Leads Withdrawal of Mobility Business Sale
"Improvement of Affiliate Treatment" Naver Union Ready to Strike

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Choi] The voice of labor unions is growing louder in the IT industry. The presence of unions has become more pronounced, with actions such as threatening strikes to force the withdrawal of business sales and to achieve improvements in working conditions.

According to industry sources on the 28th, the Naver branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Chemical, Textile and Food Workers' Union (joint statement) is conducting picketing protests involving union members from five affiliates: Green Web Service, Incomes, Companions, NTech Service, and NIT Service.

The joint statement demands improvements in the treatment of workers at these affiliates. Despite collective actions over the past month, Naver has shown no behavioral changes to resolve affiliate issues, leading the union to expand their activities offline.

Union members participate in picketing during their breaks, conducting protests during commuting and lunch hours. The picketing will rotate among Naver’s new headquarters, 1784, and the buildings housing the five affiliates. Other forms of collective action that union members can participate in together are also being prepared following the picketing.

What remains is the possibility of a strike. The union had initially announced collective actions divided into five stages: ▲joining the union caf? ▲online rallies ▲offline rallies ▲partial strike ▲full strike, and they have now reached the stage just before a partial strike. While Companions, which operates the call center, partially struck in 2019, this is the first time that all affiliates supporting service operations have announced a strike.

In the case of Kakao’s union, they succeeded in forcing the withdrawal of the mobility business sale. Although changes in the shareholder structure of Kakao Mobility were being considered, the sale was withdrawn in respect of the sustainable growth intentions agreed upon by the mobility labor and management.

This was influenced by strong opposition from Kakao union-centered employees. The Kakao branch of the National Chemical, Textile and Food Industry Workers' Union (Crew Union) expressed opposition together with groups such as designated driver organizations when news of the mobility business sale emerged.

Kakao Mobility employees opposed the sale, forming the first majority union among Kakao affiliates, and launched a campaign including signature drives and picketing protests. Even after the withdrawal of the mobility business sale, the Kakao union announced plans to focus on improving working and labor conditions so that members can work in a stable environment, be fairly evaluated, and receive appropriate compensation.

Seo Seung-wook, head of the Kakao union branch, said, “We welcome the decision to withdraw the sale, which was achieved through the active participation of Kakao community (affiliate) employees. As the official channel connecting Kakao Mobility members and the company, the union will continue to actively cooperate with the company for the growth of Kakao Mobility.”

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