There are increasing calls for labor union reform, coming from various parts of society, in the wake of cases of corruption in the labor movement. It has even come to the point where the minister of labor openly talks about the need to "regulate unions." It is only natural that people are lamenting the situation by asking how the movement, with the "democratic union" tradition it has enjoyed since 1980 as a pillar of the democracy movement, has come to this.
Some in labor might want to try to find the reasons for the irregularities in an effort by government or capital to "tame" the movement. However, true reform has to begin with recognizing your own fault before blaming others. The movement needs to ask itself if it still has that purity it enjoyed when members cried out "lets be treated like people!" and put their lives on the line to organize unapproved unions. Unionists should ask themselves what they have done for irregular and migrant workers, who are little different than they were 10, perhaps 20, years ago. Unless activists engage in thorough self-reflection it is only a matter of time before they are ostracized by rank and file union members.
The first step in reform should be a restoration of democracy within the movement. The tactics used against labor may be strong, but if internal criticism and checks are alive and well irregularities cannot get a foothold. It will require that union officials surrender their "power" and come down from above. The history of the labor movement demonstrates that arrogance on the part of union leaders ruins things when they think there is no time to organize democratically because there is more "urgent" work at hand. Finally, the labor movement must show that it is reborn in practice and not just in word, in order to regain society's confidence. One way to do that would be to devote itself to the cause of irregular and migrant workers. It should take a step further and contribute to reforming society.
In the 80's and 90's the Korean labor movement was a symbol of democracy and struggle for labor around the world. We put our hopes in it once more because of that tradition.
The Hankyoreh, 24 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Democracy Within the Labor Movement |
