The crisis at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) is a prominent issue again as a result of its failed representatives' meeting last weekend. There was controversy over the eligibility of representatives from two major employers, and the session failed to vote on a single item on the agenda. You get the impression you are looking at the total powerlessness of one of the country's key labor organizations.
This latest meeting was supposed to elect a new president, and that is why the situation is being interpreted as having been something that originated in conflict between candidates' campaigns. Indeed, there are even controversial allegations that accuse one candidate's people of having attempted to run the meeting around, and it is why there are concerns the organization is going to fall into far deeper conflict over selecting a chairperson.
The situation is even exposing substantial problems that go beyond factional conflict and attempted power grabs. Namely that would be the controversy over whether some representatives are eligible as such, and that is a crisis for the organization's internal democracy. The problem is very serious as this is a labor organization that has long treasured democratic debate.
The violence at a representatives' meeting last year is fundamentally connected to the current situation. There has been a breakdown in the process of bringing together diverse opinions. Those who are in the minority take issue with "the high-handedness of the majority and its insistence on the legitimacy of the procedures," while those who are in the majority denounce the "undemocratic-ness" of a "minority that ignores procedures." The controversy over the eligibility of some representatives is part of the same issue. It is a conflict that cannot be resolved unless the organization establishes a format for democratic debate that everyone can agree to.
When there is no rational and democratic format for debate in place organization officers turn to corruption and those in the minority feel the temptation to resort to physical strength instead of dialogue. KCTU needs to be aware of how if the problem is not resolved, the growth the democratic labor movement has achieved over the past several decades could collapse in a all at once.
The Hankyoreh, 14 February 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] KCTU Needs New Paradigm for Debate |
