Once again the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) failed to open its representatives' meeting. The meeting was scheduled to deal with the proposed "social contract" but this is the third time it failed to even get started, a crisis for the umbrella union. The effects of KCTU's crisis are going to be significant since it is highly likely the government, ruling party, and opposition Grand National Party (GNP) will vote on the expansion of irregular employed in April's extraordinary session of the National Assembly.
After the meeting fell apart KCTU's leadership announced that it would "not tolerate physically blocking the very opening of meetings," and said it would seek out the diverse views of its membership under the premise it was going to participate in the tripartite commission of government, labor, and business. The whole of the labor movement needs to pool its wisdom together at this time, putting the urgent issues such as irregular labor ahead all else. That is why the undemocratic behavior of those who occupied the platform and for the third time kept the meeting from beginning should rightly be criticized.
Still, now that three representatives' meetings by the KCTU have fallen apart there needs to be some cool-headed reflection as to what the reason is. The fact that even the organization's leadership is saying that members do not have an ample understanding of the social contract proposal speaks of how there needs to be more internal discussion. If that discussion is going to happen in a constructive way, government and business need to change their attitude. Labor policy is in a state of regression and as can be seen in the events at Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motors employers are assuming a firm approach. One doubts whether there can be genuine three-way dialogue in such a situation.
What is needed more than anything else is self-reflection by the organization. The outbreaks of violence at three representatives' meetings are leading to growing negative public opinion about the labor movement. That could lead to mutual destruction for all, both those for and opposed to the social contract proposal. We call on the parties to the internal conflict at KCTU to work on resolving their differences with open minds.
The Hankyoreh, 17 March 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] KCTU's 'Domestic Fight' Continues |
