A Happy
Sewing Machine Worker
- Park, Nam-hee, KWTU 2nd
Organizational Officer -
Park, Min-na ● Working Women,
editorial staff
Curiosity Due to A Strong
Confidence
Ugh! It is the year 2002. I used to say that I was afraid of time passing and
the turning of the calender sounds like thunder. I asked director, PARK
Nam-hee, who is in her forties, how she felt and she said ‘hmm...’I don't
wonder she has always been so steadfast like a rock.
I can still feel the intensity of the struggles in the field where she spent
most of the twenties. Her clear voice makes her the best choice as a
moderator of rallies. I was curious about the distinctive confidence
emanating from director Park.
“Do I look confident (laughs)? The truth is,
the present situation of my union requires more abilities than I can give and
I have been reflecting on myself a great deal. The unions are really
important to women workers but for me, it is just a way of life. I try to do
my best. Working is just like playing. So I am happy everyday
(laughs).”
Difficult But A Happy Childhood
I thought that her confidence came from her positive character but she said
that it is because she most probably resembled her mother. She was the
youngest of five children. Her father was bedridden with a stroke for many
years. How to eat and live was entirely up to her mother. Her mother worked
at every job she could find but never showed any of her emotions from her
children. So, the young Nam-hee grew up carefree and happy.
“I remember we used to have more noodles made
from the flour given out by the local government office instead of rice. My
sisters who graduated from elementary school were all working in factories in
Seoul.
I was just happy playing with the kids in the neighborhood. I think I was too
young to know what poverty is.”
Even when fleeing from the debts which had been piling in the middle
of the night to Seoul where her sisters were working, she was happy because
the family, with the exception of the oldest sister who was married, was
together again and lived in a single room.
Feeling the burdens of living
Park Nam-hee was happy in her new school in Seoul but owing to her
mother's over-generosity to other people, she could not pay her school fees.
“I met a terrible teacher in the 5th Grade.
he used to sent me back home if I went to school without my school fees. But
where would the money come from? So I pretended I was going to school at home
but decided not to go to school. Mother found out and told me to go but I
decided not to
go, knowing full well the circumstances of the family. However, I met a good
teacher in the 6th Grade and graduated.”
She started feeling the burdens of life when she saw children of her
age in school uniforms. When she was 18, she started working in an underwear
factory.
“It was a two-storey building with living
quarters on the top floor and a factory in the basement. Other than a
40-minute lunch break, I worked and ate in the factory in the midst of the
dust and that was when I first felt the burdens of life. I wanted to get out
of the dire poverty I was in. I then made up my mind that the only way
I could overcome my problem is through studying. I found out a night school
where I could study.”
However, the night school had been transformed from one focussing on
university entry to a labor-issue oriented night school after the May 18
Gwangju democratic movement. She thought she was really going to receive some
education this time but all she heard was about someone called Jeon Tae-il (a
worker who self-immolated
calling for the observance of the standard labor laws) and labor- issues. She
even protested as to why she was not being taught anything. She was 19 and
very eager to study.
“Once I made my teacher cry. I asked them to
live as a worker and work 12 hours a day before telling me about
labor-issues. I was over-excited and shouted and my teacher could not speak a
word but just cried. I hated my reality of working 12 hours a day and eating
cold lunches in the dusty workrooms. And I took it out on my poor
teacher.”
For the creation of a Livable World for People
Although she wanted more than anything to live better, she could not shut her
eyes and ears to the ugly and twisted world around her which oppressed
workers with such injustice. Park Chung-hee's dictatorial regime of 18 years'
had ended but the shadow of the military was still prevalent and illicit
surveillance was rampant in the workplace. Her night school teachers were
arrested by the
police and the school broke up into smaller groups.
“One day, we read some photocopied materials
about Jeon Tae-il and I think that was when I started changing a bit. I never
thought I would turn out like this (laughs). I read a lot, followed debates,
went to plays performed by other night schools, learnt about labor history
and philosophy.
I realized that I was changing completely.”
That was when she realized that a more livable world for people,
where workers can live humanely, must be created. In 1983, the Guro
Industrial Complex was the center of the labor movements. It had a long
history and was continuously fostering the growth of future labor activists.
As soon as she realized what and why she had to fight for, Park Nam-hee
entered a clothing factory as a sewer in the Guro area.
“I suffered at first because my hands
were too slow. But my weapon was my persistence (laughs). I worked hard no
matter what and soon received recognition for my diligence. I met some really
good people. We formed groups and later joined a guitar class at the
Youngdeung-po Industrial Mission Church. I also formed a reading group as
well as a eating group. Oh, it. seems like we only played, didn't we
(laughs)?”
Of
course, it was not all play. It was how people otherwise alone in this world,
came to depend on each other in friendship and trust. Then, things started
happening.
Struggle Against Dismissal For Over A Year
On March 10, 1985, one of her co-workers who had been a college student was
dismissed from work when the management found them coming out of a labor
rally.
A rally protesting the dismissal was held on April 26 in the company
cafeteria and 11 more were dismissed and a year struggle for reinstatement
started.
“I don't know why I went around getting
beaten in those days (laughs). The reinstatement struggle meant getting
beaten every morning. We were locked up in the General Affairs office and hit
over the heads, ankles twisted, spat on and other things I can't speak of.
About 4 or 5 dismissed men workers would be forcibly taken away in vans and
thrown away in far remote places. We had to receive hospital treatment for
head injuries at one time. Our parents were threatened by saying that we were
Communists. My mother flatly refused to believe what they were telling her
and told them off. They never bothered her again.”
Blacklisted & Continuing Dismissals
Park Nam-hee was one of the victims blacklisted in the mid-1980s. After 3
months of work in a factory, evidence was found that Park had been dismissed
before and she was pressured to resign from her work and was severely beaten.
She felt that she was unfairly treated and protested against her dismissal
every morning.
In the end, she felt that it was unnecessary to struggle every morning and
left her job.
“I got three more jobs but was dismissed soon
after. I realized that I could no longer work in the Guro Industrial Complex
and moved to Doksan-dong. It was different there. While we were struggling in
Guro, workers in Doksan-dong worked. So if the Guro Industrial Complex needed
more organizational strength, it must succeed in organizing other nearby
industrial areas.”
Burying First Love In My Heart
While she was working in a clothing factory in Doksan-dong, Park Nam-hee had
organized a hiking club with some men workers from a machinery factory. One
day in 1987, she was arrested along with other workers in a rally. All were
released soon after and because of an appointment,,she had gone straight from
the police station to a friend's house.
“I went to my friend's house but found
another person there. I was happy to see him smiling brightly at me. He
was a former teacher of mine in night study and was a good person, liked by
everyone. I always thought I would like a single life as a labor activist but
during our three years' relationship, I thought of marriage at times
(laughs). We went our separate ways but memories of the first love remains. I
experienced the pain of separation, so it was good for me after all!
(laughs)”
I
suppose memories of first love were good because her expression changed and I
saw hints of lovely memories hidden in her heart.
Valuable Friends
In 1988, ‘Makers of Clothing’was formed and a cultural event was held once
annually. Members were all graduates of the sewing room of Martyr Park
Yong-Jin Memorial Project who had gathered together after a clothing
exhibition and continued to hold events.
“About 15 of us gathered in 1991 and formed
the Southern Regional Promotion Committee of the Cheonggye Clothing Labor
Union. We felt that ‘Makers of Clothing’was a more popular name and carried
out more activities under that name. I was working in a clothing factory but
left to take position
as the head of the Committee for three years. I gave my mother whatever money
I had in my possession and informed her that I would be able to give her
anymore money. We received no outside aid and managed to cover all costs
through membership fees. We were happy because we knew how to help each
other. It was a difficult
time but was also very worthwhile.”
However, in 1991, she was hit by a tear gas canister and had to
received hospital treatment for burns for 18 days. The scars on her chest and
both arms still remind her of that day. Members of `Makers of Clothing’were
there to serve her every need and even her own family members were impressed
by the loyalty of her colleagues.
However, the high medical fees became a problem.
“I wanted to leave the hospital but all
Committee members were away and there was no one who could help me with the
hospital fees. It was really troubling. Finally, members of‘Makers of
Clothing’came up with some money and the rest I borrowed from my sister. For
the first time in my
life I wondered if that was the right way to live. Similar things might
happen again and I realized that I had to fend for myself. It was useless to
do other things when I could not even look after myself."
Identity As a Woman, Working with women workers
movement
She had never realized herself as a woman until she started working at the
women workers movement. She was entering her thirties and many of her friends
were settling down and she felt a need for change. She realized that she
needed to see herself as a woman. Otherwise remaining only as a worker
without future prospects would be difficult. She knew then the importance of
the role of the KWWAU and became a member, In 1996, she was offered a
full-time job and worked as vice-director of organizational activities for
over a year.
Park Nam-hee felt that she had been living a narrow life and once again, she
felt that her solution would be through academic studies. She later passed
the entrance qualification examinations for both high school and the
university. In 1997, she wanted to continue her studies more and left the
Seoul Women Workers Association.
Philippines, Park Nam-hee
(second from right) (June 10, 2000)
“I was looking around for private tutoring
institutions when I heard the news that my brother was suffering from brain
cancer. I had never been close to my brother but then I realized what a
difficult life he had led as the only son in the family. All the
responsibilities laid on his shoulders. I think that was the first time I
became a filial daughter to my
mother. I looked after my brother alone and did all his bidding until he died
elevens months later. My mother was devastated but I was sad, too. I wondered
why I should live and why I should study. In the midst of all this,
chairperson Rhie Chol Soon, offered me the opportunity of studying in the
Philippines. I spent 2 years and 8 months abroad.”
Overseas Study in the Philippines, then to the
KWTU
In March 1998, Park Nam-hee started in an English language program and went
on to finish her studies in social science with funding received from the
KWWAU as part of funds supporting Third World countries. Her English ability
unstable from the beginning did not become perfect but she adapted well to
the life in the Philippines and gave her new energy.
She returned on January 21 2001 and started working as the director of
organizations second division of the KWTU. I wondered how she had spent her
first year in her position.
“There were many difficulties. I realize it
was the time to work so I didn't have any worries. I was happy to work. It
was difficult to understand the IMF crisis as I was not in the country. There
was an increase in irregular work and there has been many changes. I was
really happy working. It was so worthwhile working with union members and
branch unions especially with the formation of the 88 Country Club Branch
Union and subsequent victory during collective bargaining. The only thing
remaining is how many members would participate in union activities. It was
good to see union members changing. I realize how important the role of
women's unions and I am happy to be part
of it. I want to do my best in all that I do.”