From Tomorrow, KCTU General Strike... Labor Sector-Government Conflict Intensifies

Intensified Conflict Between Government and Labor Over Minimum Wage and Labor Reform

On the morning of the 26th of last month, union members shouted slogans demanding the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act and the cessation of union suppression at the '7·12 Regime Resignation General Strike Declaration Press Conference' held by the Metal Workers' Union at the office of the National Metal Workers' Union in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is launching a general strike for two weeks starting from the 3rd, demanding the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Amid significant labor-government conflicts over the minimum wage, the 'Yellow Envelope Act' (Amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), and labor reforms, the resumption of the KCTU's general strike is expected to inevitably worsen relations.

According to the labor sector on the 2nd, the KCTU will hold press conferences in 15 regions nationwide, including in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd to declare the general strike. Earlier, Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, stated at a press briefing on the 28th of last month, "We have determined that the regime, which is running a one-way dictatorship, cannot be fixed," adding, "The only way to correct this is the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol government."

It is expected that 400,000 to 500,000 of the KCTU's total 1.2 million members will participate in the general strike, which will continue until the 15th. On the first day, the 3rd, about 3,000 special employment workers such as delivery drivers and home appliance repair technicians will strike, and on the 5th, regional rallies and marches will be held in 16 cities and provinces nationwide. On the 8th, a general rally of the public officials' union will take place.

The Metal Workers' Union, the largest industrial union within the KCTU, will join the general strike on the 12th. In particular, the Hyundai Motor Union will participate in the Metal Workers' Union strike by conducting a partial strike of four hours in total, with two hours each for morning and afternoon shifts. On the 13th, major industrial unions will conduct a concentrated all-out struggle in downtown Seoul, and on the final day, the 15th, there will be a rally by the Public Transport Workers' Union and a nationwide rally organized by the KCTU demanding the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

President Yoon Suk-yeol Photo by Yonhap News

The purpose of this general strike is to condemn the labor reforms promoted by the Yoon Seok-yeol government and to call for the administration's resignation. There are concerns that the already unstable labor-government relations will deteriorate further due to this general strike.

Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, emphasized on the 26th, "Any act that infringes on the basic rights of other citizens beyond the legal framework cannot be justified or recognized under any circumstances," adding, "The government will hold both labor and management accountable according to law and principles for any illegal acts until the end."

Regarding the minimum wage, the government and labor sector recently clashed over the appointment of a successor to Kim Jun-young, a worker member of the Minimum Wage Commission (and Secretary-General of the Korean Federation of Metal Workers' Unions), who was arrested after a high-altitude protest. The labor sector recommended Kim Man-jae, chairman of the Metal Workers' Union, as a successor, but the government rejected this, citing that Kim Man-jae was a co-defendant with Kim Jun-young, leading all eight worker members to declare their withdrawal from the Minimum Wage Commission.

The worker members returned to the meeting on the 29th of last month, but tensions remain. Since there is a large gap between the labor sector's initial demand for next year's minimum wage (11,210 won) and the management sector's (9,620 won), labor-management-government conflicts may intensify during the mediation and voting processes by the public interest members.

On the 24th of last month, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held up hand placards demanding a minimum wage increase at the "National Workers' Rally for the Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration" near Hyehwa Station in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

There is also a significant difference in stance between the government and labor sector regarding the 'Yellow Envelope Act,' which limits indiscriminate claims for damages by companies against striking workers. The Yellow Envelope Act was submitted to the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th of last month, led by the Democratic Party of Korea despite opposition from the People Power Party, and is now in a state where the agenda can be reviewed.

The Democratic Party is expected to push for the bill's passage by leveraging the minority government situation, but since the ruling party views the Yellow Envelope Act as effectively a 'strike-promoting law,' there is speculation that President Yoon may exercise his veto power.

The labor sector warned that if President Yoon exercises his veto, "a firestorm of public sentiment will engulf Yongsan," but Minister Lee Jeong-sik has consistently expressed opposition to the Yellow Envelope Act, stating, "Labor sites will see a surge in conflicts and disputes."

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