The labor world is faced with another crisis as charges of corruption have surfaced against officials of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and Hyundai Motor Co.'s labor union. The prosecutors’ investigations, which began with corruption involving a welfare fund run by the Korean Federation of Taxi Workers’ Unions, is expanding into an investigation of the FKTU. The investigation into current and former officials with the Hyundai Motor union regarding corruption in hiring practices is also showing signs that it will not end simply. As investigations are still ongoing, one can’t make careless predictions, but the charges alone in both incidents are sufficiently shocking. That’s because for the labor movement, ethics is everything.
Of these incidents, one had to notice the FKTU allegations first. One cannot disregard the position of the Hyundai Motor union within the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), but considering how the investigation of the FKTU targets the officials of a labor federation, it’s on an entirely different level. If the charges being raised are confirmed to be true, the prestige of the FKTU, as a body that represents hundreds of thousands of union members, would plummet. If this were to happen, the position of labor in the trilateral negotiations between labor, management and the government would weaken, and individual laborers would feel the aftermath.
Because of this, the FKTU must show an attitude of actively trying to get to the bottom of the corruption charges. If there are misunderstanding, it must clearly explain them, and it must acknowledge and thoroughly reflect on its mistakes. Of course, the Hyundai Motor union must also thoroughly reflect on its mistakes.
We must also work to see the roots of these labor corruption scandals. Labor union corruption is not unrelated to how government and capital have historically tried to tame the labor world. The past dictatorship used to violently suppress the radical labor movement while trying to tame the FKTU by offering it concessions. The attempts to divide the FKTU and KCTU have continued up till recently. It’s needless to say that companies tried to buy labor off as well. These attempts became a hotbed for labor union corruption. The labor world must keep in mind the common truth, which is that to break from government and corporate temptation and secure its independence is the way for the labor movement to survive.
The Hankyoreh, 14 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (EIP)]
Labor World Must Learn Lessons from Corruption Scandals |
