[vol.17] [VOICES FROM WORKPLACES] Demanding the government for the people
WORKING WOMAN 2008. 3. 21. 10:48- voices of four women workers to the present government-
On October 30, 1998, "the fourth rally for come workers' job security and women's unemployment prevention" was held in front of the headquarters of the ruling party. In the rally, 'Free platform of 20 women speaking up to the present government' was formed to convey needs of various groups of women workers. The following was abstracted from their presentations.
- Abolish the system of military service-adding points to "provide equal opportunity for women"
Please pardon me for not mentioning my name and student number. Several months ago, I took an examination to be government officer at the 9th level. It was very competitive and so the passing mark was the high score of 95. My average score was only 92, only even though I worked hard. Of course, I failed the examination.
Since men usually have an additional five points for completing the military service, it is almost impossible for women to keep up with them. I understand the government's position giving extra benefits to men who complete the service. However, it is extremely difficult to find a job at the moment. In particular, as a woman, I have been looking for a job for two years since graduating from university.
I suggest the following; the government can give extra benefits to those who do their military services, but this should not stop women from being benefited from equal job opportunities. That is to say, economic benefits at higher salary classes can be given to those men who pass exams, but the system of military service-adding points should be abolished to guarantee equal opportunities to women. I strongly believe that this current practice deprives women of equal opportunities.
I called newspapers, broadcasting stations and even the Blue House to let them know of my opinion, but I realized that the Korean society is male dominant. None of these authorities paid any attention to me.
I have decided to discuss my situations with my university. I feel ashamed although already an alumni of the university, I am looking for help rather than contributing to it as I should do. I strongly request the abolishment of the system of military service-adding points. Abstract from a woman's letter about the military service-adding points system which is a factor preventing women from finding work.
- Factory disappearing with sewing machines after withheld back wages
My husband is unemployed, and I have two children aged 24 and 25. I have worked in garment factories for about five years. During this period, I suffered from withheld back wages twice and so, I sued them at a local labor office.
Early last March, I started working at a garment factory called 'Chongsol' through an advertisement in a community newsletter. My wage was set as 800,000 WON a month. For the first three months, I was paid regularly, but later, my wages were continuously delayed. They were delayed one month, two months and so on...
The company promised to pay my wages by the date of September 17, 1998, but the promise was not kept. I then waited for the company's promise to sell the sewing machines to pay their workers. On the day when the company was to pay me back, I went to the company one hour earlier than my appointment. I found some people putting the sewing machines into a truck.
I could not find anybody from the company but a truck driver, so I thought the owner may have been in the office. But, the office was empty. The truck left. I waited and waited for the owner, but he did not came. Now, I do not know how to get back my wages. I am really very upset whenever I recall my hard work, doing overnight hours and skipping dinner. I dislike advertisements for seamstresses in community newspapers.
- by Mrs. Park with the age of 52, living in Kuro 6-dong, Seoul
- Woman householder excluded from the government's public work project
Female householder participating in the 4th rally for calling for women worker's job security and demanding the government to establishment women's unemployment preventionI am a 43 year-old householder living in Inchon. I have a son going to middle school. I have been the breadwinner for my family, even when I had an irresponsible husband at home. However, at the moment most restaurants don't hire, and the job of a domestic helper is not in demand. I look at community newsletters almost everyday.
Whenever I call upon them, my age becomes a problem. They usually hang up after I answered "I am 43 years old." I am registered as a single mother. Although the government announced that we, temporary pensioners are able to work in public works projects, and that we are eligible for government to support for our livelihoods, what the government has done for me who is a single mother as well as a woman householder, has been to give me 20,400 WON per month as support.
It also gave me work for 20 days. However, the government did not let me work any larger. I went to several district offices to beg them to give me some work. They responded that single mothers can only participate in projects specially designed for them, while destitute and temporarily unemployable people may join general public work projects. All support existing for single mothers who want economic independence is 20,400 WON a month, which is less than for destitute and temporarily unemployable people.
I joined a job training program for women householders to become a cook. I asked officers if I could be employed as cook several times, but they gave negative replies. One day, when I heard that the government was implement-ing meals project in secondary high and high schools, I went to the Education Office and visited officers related to school projects to ask about the project.
However, they answered that the project would be subcontracted to private companies, and so that the cooks would be employed by these subcontracting companies. This means that my employment as a cook is not guaranteed. Therefore, I would like to make some suggestions.
I request that women householders be allowed to join job training programs and public works in accordance with their training. I desperately request the government to employ women householders as cooks in secondary high and high schools. In addition, I suggest that women householders be able to manage direct 'women householders' subcontracting operation system's in meals projects that are subcontracted to private companies.
- by Mrs. Kwon living in Inchon
- One-side company restructuring to victimize workers
The Chohung System Co., a 100% subsidiary of the Chohung Bank was established in 1990 with 70 workers. It aims at systemizing and computerizing the bank and its subsidiaries.
Unemployment workers demand the government to establish women's! Unemployment coutermeasures! To guarantee women workers' job security & to abolish the military service-adding-point system!Initially, workers from the Chohung System Co. were dispatched to the Computing Dept. of the bank under the pretext that they had to learn banking jobs. but, we are still dispatched workers. Finally, the company has asked a manpower agency to fill their needs for labor force from the Chohung bank. In addition, the bank has discouraged the company from developing, by appointing its retired directors, who know little about computers as major ones in the company.
In August 1995, workers in the Chohung System Co. working under poor working conditions established a trade union under the slogan of 'our future in our hands' and we were affiliated with an industry trade union of the KCTU. In the beginning of establishing the union, the management delayed making collective agreements demanded by the trade unions and, punished its members, it also made false accusations against union executives. Twenty members left the union at that time.
Nevertheless, the remaining union members united to fight for their trade union. In November 1996, collective bargaining was authorized by the federation of trade unions and we went on strike to defend our collective agreement. The major issues were 1. obtaining the right to collective action 2. limiting dispatched employment. A collective agreement was reached after a three day strike.
In retaliation, the company and the bank punished the union members with accusations of 'leaving the workplace without permission', and forced them to be dispatched to the Computing Dept. of the bank. To resist this decision, the union refused the dispatchment on the ground that its collective agreement guarantees 'banning workers from being re-dispatched for three months' and went on a legal struggle.
The company refused paying back-wages out January, 1997, claiming that the workers had refused their jobs. The union's struggle against non-payment of back wages developed into a strike for retiring the company's president. As a result of a three month-long intense struggles involving out rallies in front of the headquarters of the bank and the president's home, the union eventually managed to achieve its demands for payment of back wages, retirement of the president, and development of programs for the company.
On July 25, 1998, the bank announced that it was closing down the company, which was against the negotiation agreed upon during the previous month. That day the union set up an urgent action committee to carry out struggles against the company's decision and for guarantees of job security, and it held rallies in front of bank's headquarters. On August 1, 1998, the company fired all workers and prevented us from entering the office. In reaction to this, the union went on a struggle and set up tents at the well-known Myongdong Cathedral on August 10, 1998.
The union saw the closure as nominal restructuring by the bank. While it carried out various kinds of rallies, it suggested practical alternatives which included the demands and interests of all 41 members.
The committee prepared to take over the company in solidarity with a center assisting workers to take over the management and the finances of their ailing companies, aims to set up independently-managed companies as alternatives for maintaining job security. Then, on October 14, 1998, the union openly suggested taking over the company and demanded that the bank actively negotiated with us.
On November 1, 1996, as a result of 100 days of united struggles the company expressed it willing to solve the dispute through several channels. The trade union was inspired by this to carry out firm struggles until obtaining victory.
- by enraged women workers of the Chohung System Co., a company that closed without any concern for its workers.