NEWS
Korean Women Workers Associations United
Seoul, Inchon, Puchon, Ansan, Kwangju, Mansan & Changwon, North Cholla, Pusan
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KWWAU The first annual assembly of the Action Center for Unemployed Women (ACUW) KWWAU had a forum on the first anniversary of the ACUW in order to evaluate the activities of the ACUW and to make resolutions on policies for unemployed women. The ACUW, which was set up in order to share the sufferings of women workers who have been hit even harder since the country came under the IMF Relief Fund system, has set up a central administration and eight local secretariats. The ACUW has conducted various activities, including counseling, education, provision of countermeasure policies, study and research, medical care, assistance in daily living, organizing, vocational training. All these measures can provide practical help for unemployed women. The forum was organized with the purpose of collecting various opinions from different sectors of society so as to decide on the proper policy for unemployed women. There was a panel discussion and we were happy to have Dr. Tae Hong Kim from Korean Women's Development Institute, Sec. Gen. In Soon Nam from Korea Women's Associations United, Ms. Soong Hee Lee (an expert advisor on women's policy) from the ruling party and Ms. Bok Ki Kim (a chief manager of project assistance) from Unemployed-relief civil movement, as panelists. National Women Workers' Camp We held a national camp on July 10 - 11 in collaboration with the Korea Women's Trade Union (Preparatory Committee). 130 women workers from all over the country gathered at Mt. Mani to share experiences and life stories. At the camp, the women workers from various occupations and work posts confirmed and consolidated their will to do their best for the establishment of the Korea Women's Trade Union. Open Forum with the theme of 'The employment situation and future tasks of unorganized women workers' The employment situation has worsened since the country came under the IMF Relief Fund system, and the situation in workplaces without unions is much worse. The KWWAU opted to conduct research on the situation and to provide some resolutions. To do this, 1,691 questionnaires were collected from seven areas of Seoul, as well as Puchon, Ansan, North Cholla, Kwangju, Masan & Changwon, and Pusan. These questionnaires and interviews with 20 women workers were analysed as the basis of the research and the results were brought to the open forum for broader discussions and sharing of opinions on July 15. The 20th Memorial ceremony for the late Kyoung Sook Kim On August 29, there was the 20th memorial ceremony for the late Kyoung Sook Kim, organised jointly with the YH Fellowship and the Korea Women's Trade Union. Over 400 people participated in the ceremony. The ceremony was composed of a memorial worship, a memorial drama, dance, and a solidarity program. The day was full of good spirits and everyone hoped that they might inherit her commitment. The former chairwoman of the YH trade union, Ms. Soon Young Choi made an opening speech, saying that we should revive the passion of that day when we cried out for the justice and democracy. Visit by the women workers' delegation from Indonesia and Thailand Seven women workers' organizers from Indonesia and Thailand visited Korea as part of an exchange program. They stayed from September 5 to 12. The purpose of the visit was to share experiences of the situation in both countries under the economic crisis and the situation of women workers in particular. They learned about the experiences of Korean women workers and unions confronting the economic crisis. They also learned about the present situation and history of the child care movement, the Action Center for Unemployed Women and the Korea Women's Trade Union. They visited the Masan and Pusan Free Trade Zone which are quite historical in the rubber industry. We shared views about impact on women workers caused by the move-out of the rubber industry. It would be a good model case for Indonesia where the workers need to be ready with countermeasure plans for the rubber industry. Presidential Award on the anniversary ceremony for the '99 Equal Employment Month' On October 8, the KWWAU together with the Korea Women's Associations United received Presidential Awards. The KWWAU was given an award in acknowledgement of its contribution toward improving women's status through the counseling work of the Equal Rights Counseling and the operation of the Action Center for Unemployed Women. Puchon WWA Completion of the women's vocational training course PWWA conducted three vocational training courses during June to August. 23 women, including children care assistants, completed the newspaper comprehension class and 14 of them gained certificates. 30 women, who had employment insurance, completed the readers' guidance training and the telemarketing course which were organized to assist return to employment. 34 women completed the 'General Assistants' Course' which was a short vocational program for nursing and maternity care assistants. 15 of them have formed a mutual support group. The rest of them joined the PWWA or joined other groups like the reading guidance group. North Cholla WWA Unemployed women confront reemployment problems Unemployed women, who were fed up with seeking jobs alone, united to seek work. They went out to the streets in order to publicize the fact that there are many capable women workers in the Action Center fro Unemployed Women. Some of them found a job during the promotion period which was good news. Many of them were able to recover their lost self-confidence in the hunt for work. Inchon WWA Training course for women counselors IWWA provided 12 sessions of a training course for counselors. There were various lectures on counseling skills, theory and case studies of group counseling, vocationalcounseling and planning for future vocations, workshop illustrating some model cases, and so on. It was implemented for the purpose of understanding the particular circumstances affecting women workers and improving the capacity of counselors. The campaign for the expulsion of sexual abuse in the July women's week On July 3 in Wolmi island and on July 7 in front of East Inchon Railway Station, campaigns were held. An open counseling desk was set up to conduct one day's counseling. The campaign encouraged people to join 'Equal Protectors' with the gift of a memo notebook, distributed flyers, conducted traditional worship, provided an open information board, conducted research, and so on, to encourage people to participate. Leadership meeting of the Mutual Aid Women's Association of unemployed women On August 7, IWWA held a leadership meeting of the Mutual Aid Women Association of Unemployed Women. The participants shared their different experiences and planned for future activities. Masan & Changwon WWA Research on the living situation and job-seeking experiences of unemployed women MCWWA conducted research on the living situation and job-seeking experiences of unemployed women in July. The researchers visited the Local Labor Office, the recruiting center at City Hall, and the various vocational training centers that unemployed women often visit. The total subjects of the research were 400. The results will be reported on the first anniversary of the Masan and Changwon Action Center for Unemployed Women in October. |
Training program for counselors to help the reemployment of unemployed women There was a training program for the fostering of counselors to help the reemployment of unemployed women from June 9 - 30. 25 women attended the course. The course provided lectures on such subjects as: the role of counselors, communication skills, the present situation and proper countermeasures against unemployment, the crisis of unemployment and social problems, unemployment policy and the social security system, legal counseling, the role and attitude of volunteers. All 25 women completed the course and ten of them have volunteered to work in the MSWWA. Pusan WWA The seventh street campaign on the anniversary of the Action Center for Unemployed Women On June 19, PWWA had an anniversary. The participants remembered the six street campaigns in which they worked to expose female unemployment as society's problem and gained the commitment of unemployed women. They consolidated their will to work for countermeasure plans for unemployed women. Workshop on the situation of women workers in Pusan On July 8, there was an exciting forum organized by the Action Center for Unemployed Women, the Women's Trade Union, the Pusan Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Women University Students' Association in Pusan and Kyounsang. They shared thoughts on the employment situation and future tasks for unemployed women, the young unemployed, and field workers. Working Women's House of PWWA Professional Housekeepers' Association: its establishment and activities On July 4, the Working Women's House formed the 'Professional Housekeepers' Association' on the second anniversary of the Working Women's House. The association is a self-support association for women working as a housekeepers (housework assistants), nursing care assistants, maternity care assistants, and child care assistants. The House has provided a general assistants' course. The course helped women to improve their work as professional assistants offering good-quality services. In most cases, the women had obtained their jobs through recruitment agencies who gave them jobs with very bad working conditions. Now they are looking for work through the association. Assistant jobs are now very much needed in society where more women are working and in need of help. The assisting job is an expanding field of work for middle-aged women. At the moment, the association has its office in the House with one full-time staff member, and those involved take turns to complete the secretarial work. So far, there have been good results. All 80 members are seeking work and their information is posted on the association newsletter. There have been a number of calls. They are planning to prepare for training courses; housework training in September and maternity and nursing care training in October. Kwangju WWA Women's School The KWWA held its third women's school from June 23 to July 11 every Wednesday. There were lectures and discussions on Women and Society, Women and Law, and the background to the establishment of the women's trade union and its activities. 10 participants in the school took part in the national camp. Open forum on the situation of and organization plans for unorganized women workers On August 11, there was an open forum. The report on the research on unorganized women workers was presented and analysed. As a countermeasure plan, the establishment of the Korea Women's Trade Union was proposed and its background explained. In the forum the participants heard the thoughts of representatives from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and other local trade unions, on the development of the women's trade union. The representatives from local women's organizations, labor organizations, local trade union leaders and the members of KWWA participated in the forum and it was a step forward for the women's trade union in this area. Ansan WWA Parenting class making a world of living together AWWA provided an advanced parenting class and 25 people participated. It was a training course designed for parents to learn more effective ways to bring up and help their kids. It also encouraged the participants to reflect on themselves as parents in order to have deeper and better understanding of their children. The MBTI program helped mothers to realize their characteristics in order to have a more effective role as a mother. It helped the participants to make better parents. Group counseling for unemployed female family heads There were three group counseling sessions for unemployed female family heads on June 22 - 26. Group counseling was provided with the purpose of allowing participants a sophisticated understanding of their repression and to improve their determination. 10 unemployed female family heads attended each group counseling session. They developed their self-confidence through training in self-expression. It was a successful program to improve the mental strength of unemployed female family heads. New business of 'Great Love Lunch Box' The AWWA proposed a new business as a self-support program for unemployed women, and it was accepted by six women. They, with the AWWA, have invested in the establishment of the "Great Love" lunch box business. It has not yet officially opened but it has catered for some small companies by providing lunches, picnics, and others. They have received orders from companies and kindergartens for lunch. Seoul WWA Leadership formed for the Mutual Aid Women Association On May 28, the Mutual Aid Women's Association was formed on the "Night for the Solidarity of Unemployed Women". There have been several provisional meetings. Eight members took part in the national camp. Finally the leadership has been formed. The leaders of the association provided a lecture in August with the theme of "Importance of labor, value of living as a worker, and the trade union", a case-history explication in September by a member of the association with the theme "Restoring your own rights", and organized a picnic in October. They are planning to provide free medical checks in November and a year-end party in December. "Dear fellow unemployed women! You can regain hope if you come and visit us!" Together with the unemployed women Among the clients visiting Equal Rights Counseling center, the unemployment of those in their 40s and 50s is a very serious problem. Due to their ages, they can only get work as cleaners, housework assistants, or working in restaurants. Moreover they do not have a good understanding of their own vocation and professionalism as a working woman. Therefore the SWWA held an "explanation of vocation" day on September 16 in order to help them to become aware of the present situation. The fourth "Night for the Solidarity of Unemployed Women" On October 28, the fourth "Night for the Solidarity of Unemployed Women" will be held. There was a bazaar to raise funds to help unemployed women in March. The leftover five million won will be spent on the program. There will be various contests, including writing, drawing, singing, dancing, playing, speaking, and so on for unemployed women and the funds will be given them as prizes. |