2. Inauguration of joint representative system in Korean Women Workers Association: Jeong Muja Standing Chairperson, ImYunok Co-chairperson

 Korean Women Workers Association (KWWA) begins 2014 in new leadership system. KWWA had aannual General Assembly at YUSEONG Youth Hostel on 18 January, concluded on joint representative system through amendment of articles of association and elected ImYunok, present vice-chairperson, as a Co-chairperson. In Joint leadership system, for the first time, JeongMunja, present chairperson, will serve as Standing Chairperson and ImYunok, vice-chairperson, will serve as Co-chairperson.

 

 Term of the first joint chairperson is upto next annual General Assembly, the same as present executive. At next annual General Assembly, Standing chairperson, Co-chairperson, and Vice-chairperson will be elected. Prior to this, JeongMunja Chairperson had been elected as Co-chairperson of the Korean Women’s Association United (KWAU) at her General Assembly on 9 January so she serves as both Co-chairperson of KWAU and Standing Chairperson of KWWA for a year.

 At this General Assembly, a new way for report of 2013 activities, namely IGNITE, was used, elevating concentration. An audit report, a statement of accounts, revision of by-law, and plan with 4 directions 10 tasks and budget has been approved. As another agenda, sale of ‘Space of Women and Work’ due to worsening finance and purchase of new building has been passed. At this General Assembly, fund-raising to support Cambodia Workers who had been sacrificed by government’s brutal repression were organized.

 A day before General Assembly, delegates have listened lectures from Prof. Min KyeongBae on ‘diverse ways for women movement to meet the public’ and from lawyer Park Jumin on ‘the National Intelligence Service’s election intervention and democracy’, showing high attention. In the evening, ‘Night of Unity’ event was pleasant time with ceaseless laughing and clapping.

 

[Keynote of work in 2014]

 

1. Stop democracy regression and take actions to solve problems of people’s livelihood

 Inauguration of Park Guenhye government, which was established through presidential election intervention by national agencies, was less than a year ago. Meanwhile Park government has been carrying out full-scale attack by “JongBuk (North Koean Sympathizers) driver against progressive force. Besides, presidential promises like economic democracy, welfare state have vanished. On the other hand, regression of democracy and human rights, becoming conspicuous of labor repression such as illegalization of the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers' Union and armed crackdown on railway strike, and pushing ahead privatization of railroad and health care have worsen lives of people.

 Hence, KWWA, in order to stop “JongBuk (North Koean Sympathizers) driver” by present government, restore democracy, solve problems of people’s livelihood, and fight against labor repression, would take actions in solidarity with women organization and civil society organization.

 

2. Express criticism on government policies for women labor, which worsen lives of women workers, and suggest policy alternatives.

 Under the name of achieving 70% employment rate, government push ahead with part-time job by forcing from public institution to enterprises, like 4 river project by former government. Expansion of part-time job will reinforce gender discrimination in Korea where gender wage gap ranks the top.

 KWWA would take actions to develop policies and demand for stopping policies to expand part-time job, regularization of non-regular workers, creation of decent job in care work. Also KWWA would actively counteract to secure human right and labor right for women workers together with women labor movement organizations.

 Apart from that, KWWA, at the a regional election in June 2014, would strengthen solidarity with progressive camp and make core agenda among local women labor policies.

 

[Direction of activities in 2014]

 

1. Vitalization ofmembership-based activities and activists’empowerment for strengthening of organization

1) Strengthening of member activities and fulltime activists empowerment, preparing training manual

2) Seeking strategies to expand organization through vitalization of regional base activities

3) Routinizing 7 happy inconvenience movement and activating Pumasi activity

 

2. Qualitative reform of women employment and strengthening women workers’ right through work-life balance

4) Activities to regularize women non-regular workers in public sector

5) Stop expansion of part-time job and demand for improvement of jobs for women

6) Improve social awareness on care work and secure labor right for domestic workers

 

3. Strengthening grass-root organization and revitalizing social economy movement

7) Stabilizing Korea Care Cooperatives Association and expanding foundation of cooperatives

8) Set visions of National House Manager Cooperatives and 10th anniversary commemorative event

4. Strengthening political activities to counteract new ‘public security’ situation and regional election

9) Aggressively take action against people’s lives suppression and regression of democracy

10) Political strength of women together with members and actions to put women labor related policies into election promises