Health and Medical Workers' Union Urges Gwangju City to Cancel Consignment Contract with Bitgoeul Medical Foundation over Illegal Acts

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On the morning of the 11th, the Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Health and Medical Workers' Union held a press conference urging the withdrawal of Gwangju City's consignment of the Bitgoeul Medical Foundation, which repeatedly engages in illegal activities. Provided by the Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Health and Medical Workers' Union

Health and medical labor organizations in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions have called on Gwangju City to cancel its consignment contract with Bitgoeul Medical Foundation, which has repeatedly engaged in illegal acts such as false address registration during the selection process for the Samgeo-dong waste incineration plant site.

On the morning of September 11, the Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Health and Medical Workers' Union and the branch at Gwangju City First Nursing and Psychiatric Hospital held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall. They stated, "We condemn the illegal acts of Bitgoeul Medical Foundation, including the establishment of a company union, repression of democratic unions, and false address registration to inflate resident consent rates during the selection process for the Samgeo-dong waste incineration plant site. We urge Gwangju City to immediately cancel the consignment contract."

They argued, "Over the past two years since signing the consignment contract with Gwangju City, Bitgoeul Medical Foundation has not only undermined the public nature of healthcare but also committed numerous illegal acts. Although Gwangju City First Nursing Hospital and Psychiatric Hospital are public institutions intended to provide quality medical services to vulnerable populations, Bitgoeul Medical Foundation has raised prices for non-insured services as well as essential patient supplies such as diapers. The foundation has also unilaterally cut wages and reduced staff, which has lowered the quality of nursing care and caused the hospital to lose its role in providing public care for vulnerable groups."

They continued, "The results of the police investigation, which found all twelve employees of Gwangju City Nursing and Psychiatric Hospital-including the chairman of Bitgoeul Medical Foundation-guilty of violating the Resident Registration Act and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means during the selection process for the new waste resource recovery facility (incineration plant) site in Gwangju, are truly shocking. This is clear evidence of organized false address registration, an illegal act carried out to artificially increase resident consent rates."

They further pointed out, "The fact that the establishment of a company union was acknowledged by the Labor Office and referred to the prosecution last March, and that workers' wages were cut, leading to an ongoing collective wage arrears lawsuit, are also serious issues. The consignment contract between Gwangju City and Bitgoeul Medical Foundation clearly states that if the foundation causes social controversy or is punished for illegal acts, the mayor has the authority to cancel the contract."

They added, "There is no reason for the city to continue its inhumane and undemocratic consignment contract with Bitgoeul Medical Foundation any longer. The contract with Bitgoeul Medical Foundation must be canceled immediately."