2009.2.19 No.8

<KWWA’s 17th General Assembly>

On Saturday, January 10, 2009 Korean Women Workers Association had the 17^th general assembly. About 100 nationwide activists gathered together.

Before the general assembly, a lecture on the political situation was delivered: An economic critic, Jung Tae-in gave a lecture on the topic of  ‘the financial crisis in the USAand alternatives.’  He talked about the causes of the financial crisis triggered in the USA and the states of the international economical recession very easily.  The lecture was so lively and heated that activists asked a lot of questions after the lecture.

  In this general assembly, KWWA’s new directors were appointed. Jeong Moon Ja (ex-chairperson of the IWWA) was selected as a new chairperson, Park Nam-hee (president of KWTU) and Kim Young-sook (chairperson of the DWWA) as vice chairpersons, and Joo Kyeong-mi (chairperson of the GWWA) and lawyer Choi Seong-ho as audits. more>>

<We are sad, sad and  sad (at the spot of the Yongsan disaster)>

On January 22, 2009, ‘Women feeling sad and angry at the Yongsan disaster’ had a memorial service to pray for the happiness of the victims in other world at the spot where people burnt incenses and bowed twice (to look back the deceased with affection). Because they could get news only through mass media for the last 3 days, 30 women or so were so desperate and outraged that they dashed to the spot with one breath.

We are sad, sad and sad…. We are those who are gathered to mourn and memorize the victims of the Yongsan fire disaster.

One lady living in Ssangmoon-dong (more than one hour away) said “When I went to market, I was so surprised at the news that I dashed to here. It is nonsense to use severe violence against those who are marginalized,” shedding and wiping tears. A woman labor activist, Hahn Myeonghee demanded to dismiss and arrest the designate Police chief, Kim Seokki, saying “the police killed innocent civilians four times: Since the police did not provide proper demolition they kill the innocent people once; since the police took irrational repressive measures, they kill them twice; since the police took their body away, they killed them three times; since the police performed autopsies on the innocent people without any agreement from their family, they killed them four times.”

A chairperson of Korean Women’s Associations United (KWAU), Park Young-mi asked strongly “The government said that even one rich person should not be victimized due to the comprehensive real estate taxes, but is it okay to ignore the rights of lessees and kill them?” and claimed “unbiased and impartial people should form a new fact-finding committee, because we can’t trust the investigation by Korean prosecutors.” more>>

<Do you remember, 88CC? They have lit up the torch of their struggle.>

In 2008, 53 union members working at 88 Country Club (88CC) received unlimited job reservation, and 3 union executives fired.

In 2003, workers of 88CC finally renewed collective agreement after the 48 day struggle in the face of shop closure.

In 1999, golf caddies fought against and improved the retirement policy at age of 40.

In 1999, 88CC trade union branch of KWTU was established.

In June 2008, as soon as the regime was changed, the directors and the field manager of the 88 Country Club under the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs were changed, as well.  On October 10, the government decided to privatize the 88 Country Club as part of privatization of public corporations. In the course, women workers of 88 Country Club union branch belonging to the KWTU was recognized not as workers but as specially hired workers, suppressing the trade union.more>>

<"Do you want us to really give up our meal costs?” – We oppose to the retrogressive revision of the minimum wage law!: denouncing press conference by the women labor circle>

The Korean women workers’ circle had a press conference denouncing the retrogressive suggestion on the minimum wage law made by the Grand National Party. 

<Opposed to the retrogressive minimum wage law!: denouncing press conference by the women labor circle; “Do you want us to really give up our meal costs?” >

1. Date and venue: December 3, 2008, at 11am/ in front of the Grand National Party building

2. Organized by the KWWA, KWTU, Korean Womenlink, and KWAU

On November 18, 2008, Kim Seong-jo (and other 30 national assembly members) belonging to the Grand National Party suggested the retrogressive revision of the minimum wage law. The major suggests are as follows:

▶ Deducting meal costs and accommodation fees from wages;

▶ Extending the probation period from 3 months to 6 months;

▶ Applying reduced minimum wage to the elderly at their ages of more than 60;

▶ Introducing different minimum wage systems by region;

▶ Making decisions by members of public interests belonging to the Labor Relations Commission when the suggested minimum wage is not decided by deadline.

The minimum wage is the only legal shield to help low wage workers especially irregular women workers to maintain their minimum cost of living, and also an essential legal mechanism to end serious socio-economic polarization and to protect vulnerable classes amidst the current economic crisis.more>>

<Workshop for looking back the Korean women workers’ movement and seeking for alternative women workers’ movement>

On November 5, 2008, we at the Korean Women Workers Association (KWWA) held a workshop for looking back the Korean women workers’ movement and seeking for an alternative women workers’ movement.  In this workshop, why and how the alternative women workers’ movement had been launched was discussed based on the evaluation of our 20 year activities.  The workshop was prepared by our internal small research group, ‘research team for enhancing high quality alternative women workers’ movement despite earning less’ who studied for the past 8 months.  Based on their discussion, they presented ‘the necessity for propelling an alternative women workers’ movement and finding the ways’ (Lim Youn Ok from the KWWA, and Kang Yangmi from the SWWA) and had a good chance to discuss with other KWWA’s nationwide staff persons. more>>

<Briefing session regarding 3 year project of childcare workers
for low income groups>

On December 29, 2008, Korean Women Workers Association (KWWA) had a briefing session regarding 3 year childcare worker dispatching project for low income groups. Panels and placards showing the 3 year project, and drawings and other works by children were displayed as part of preliminary event ahead of the briefing session.

About 160 people including childcare workers, beneficiary families and children from 6 regions (Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Pusan, Kwangju and Jeonju) participated in the events.

The childcare worker dispatching project for low income groups was undertaken by KWWA’s 6 regional organizations under the sponsorship of Community Chest of Korea for 3 years between November 1, 2005 and October 31, 2008.  Service suppliers are vulnerable unemployed women. After each of these 30 women selected by each regional organizations, received the total number of 144 hour vocational training, they were sent to low income families.

Families whose children are disabled children and infants, among householders earning less than 60% of average monthly wages of the urban working, took priorities as the service beneficiary.more>>

2008.9.1  No.6

"We will stop salts and enzymes.
We will refuse taking emergency measures and being hospitalized."  

 "From now on, we will stop having salts and enzymes. We don't know how long we can stand, but we will continue until the moment when the Giryung Electronics makes good decisions for workers. Although we go down, we will refuse taking emergency measures nor being hospitalized."
KIM Soyoun and YU Heunghee unionists on hunger strikes in the tent on the rooftop of the company refused interviews. But around 11am during a press conference, they sent a letter. As soon as participants looked at the letter, they were agitated and unsettled. That's because it showed their firm determination that they would stop having salts and enzymes, and further would refuse taking emergency measures and being hospitalized.
They also wrote "We are so sorry that we make you worrying. Last night when thunder stroke and a lot of rains fell, we discussed and found the only way to struggle is this." With the humble bow, all the participants knew what they meant.  more>>

Holding a memorial service for Martyr KIM Kyeongsook

 Korean Women Workers Association kept the 29th anniversary of the death of Martyr KIM Kyeongsook (on August 11, 2008). Members of the YH Association and 70s' Democratic Workers' Association joined together.
 YH incident (the death of Martyr KIM Kyeongsook) as well as the death of Martyr CHUN Tae-il was the two biggest labor incidents in the 1970s, and it was an opportunity and proved an incentive to lead up the deprivation of the congress membership of the chairperson of the opposition party, as a consequence, the democratic movement by people in Pusan and Masan, and finally, the collapse of the Park's dictatorial regime.
 In this year, the government recognized the death of Martyr KIM Kyeongsook as 'a murder by public power' by the government.
 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission declared that KIM Kyungsook (at the age of 21), a YH unionist had been killed due to the excessive suppression by the police in the process of quelling striking women workers in the office of the New Democratic Party, an opposition party in 1979. more>>

                                                                                                                                  2008.7.29  No.5

 July 5~6, 2008, a workshop for executives of Hope Center to Abolish Poverty and Increase the Rights of Women Workers (HCAPIRWW) was held, entitled "When I grow up, our HCAIRWW grow up, too."  In this year 123 executives joined together across the nation, which is a higher than the number of participants last year.
  After making a brief introduction and showing entertaining skills by region, all the participants danced to the rhythm of "We can make" and then, regular programs were carried out. Firstly, Ha Jonggang, chairperson of Hanul Professional Law Corp. delivered a lecture about "Let's look at labor issues correctly in the Korean society." More easily and interestingly explained is about capitalism development process in Korea and how its special history (occupation by Japan, the Korean War and division, long-term authoritarianism, and insufficient winding up of the past) has affect the present Korean society and how much we have suffered from that, through a film and pictures. He stressed we should carry out the strong and hopeful Korean labor movement to create a better society amid severe polarization.  more>>

2nd Labor Forum held:
"How to obtain equal pay for work of equal value legally"

 Subsequently after addressing equal pay for work of equal value enhancing systems in the US and UK in the 1st forum, on July 3, 2008, the 2nd Labor Forum looked at "how to obtain equal pay for work of equal value legally."
   Professor Kim Ellim (working for Korea National Open University) brought up  topics for discussion about legal history of equal pay for work of equal value stipulated in the Equal Employment Act; equal pay for work of equal value stipulated in international conventions; related regulations and precedents in major foreign countries; and related regulations and precedents in Korea. 1989 marked for the first time when the principle of equal pay for work of equal value was stipulated. However, there are no detailed regulations or guidelines to put the principle in force, and it is just an established rule that government officers in charge refer to for their fulfillment. The established rule has not been amended yet. In 1999 the first case (a lawsuit instituted by cleaners working at the Yonsei University) regarding equal pay for work of equal value was brought before the court, but they failed. In 2003, it was the first time when gender discrimination was admitted to be socially prevalent, bottomed upon the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. Professor Kim evaluated disputes and future tasks regarding standards of equal pay for work of equal value and its application methods have been generated, since the 2003's precedent did not carry out job evaluation method neither provided detailed analysis basis in terms of judging equal pay for work of equal value. more>>

Symposium held: "In order to consolidate the effectiveness of correcting discrimination related to Temporary Employee Protection Act,
at the point of its enforcement for 1 year"  

 The Temporary Employee Protection Act was put in force and measures on irregular workers in the public sector were taken. However, it is difficult to have a pink prospect in relation to its discrimination-correcting effectiveness for irregular  workers.
 For one year since the enforcement of the Temporary Employment Protection Act, there have been a decreasing number of overall irregular workers. However, the composition of irregular employment is deemed to be worsening, because there have been a higher number of workers whose working conditions are relatively worse amongst irregular workers. What is worse is that there are distinct gender differences in the decreasing number of irregular workers.
  Under this condition, worries about irregular workers have been raised, as the government has focused on "deregulation" including privatization of state-owned enterprises, in terms of labor policies and economic policies.(ⓒ www.ildaro.com) more>>

one person relay demonstration carried out for condemning violent police against candlelight demonstration and stepping down the police commander

 Women's organizations such as Korean Women Workers Association, Korean Women's Associations United, Women Corea, Schoolbob, and Korean Womenlink demanded police commander Eu Cheongsoo should be stepped down and punish policemen in charge of violence against peaceful candlelight demonstrations.
In the one person relay demonstration carried out 3 days straight, a candlelight tower was set up and lit for 55 hours to express women's anger against and retirement of the police commander responsible for suppressive violence against peaceful demonstrations.
Jung Moon-ja vice president, Kimshin Hae-jung and Shin Myeongjin From KWWA, joined the 'one person relay demonstration' between 1pm ~5 pm on June 8th, 2008.

women's campaign carried out on obtaining minimum wage of 1 million Won -"Without money people can't help eating US mad cow beef"

 Minimum wages have been increased little by little. In 2008, the minimum wage is set as 3,770 Won per hour and 787,930 Won a month by a standard of 40 hours. However, the initial minimum wage was so low that it has hardly been able to catch up with sharply increasing commodity prices.

In 2008 there were only 8.3% increase compared to a minimum wage of 727,930 Won (3,480 Won per hour) in 2007. Most cleaners receiving minimum wages are female householders, and so their incomes usually mean those by their whole families. Demands made by workers receiving a minimum wage are desperate and urgent. They say "I would have no more wishes if I receive 1 million Won," the wage that they can maintain their minimum livelihood.  Let's look at an example: more>>

workshop on 'Indirect Employment' Held for Hotline for Equality's Counselors 

During a workshop in May 27th, 2008, Eun Soomi (a researcher of Korea Labor Institute) delivered a lecture on indirect employment to counselors belonging to Hotline for Equality and Ko Gyeongseop, a certified labor attorney carried out some case studies with counselors.

During the lecture, we at KWWA had a good time to share and think over what indirect employments are, what situations of indirect employment women workers face, how indirect employments have been changed since the enactment of Irregular Employment Act, what causes are of increasing indirect employment, and what counter-measures we can take. In particular, it is noticeable that other forms of employments such as subcontracted workers have been increasing while the number of fixed term employment has been declined.  Eun Soomi pointed out the fact that there have been rises in indirect employment, since labor management by employers has largely preferred indirect labor management to direct one. more>>

Korean Candle Demonstration against U.S. Beef
Teenage girls play an important role in forming public opinions

 During the last holidays on May 2nd and 3rd, 2008 unusual incidents caught our eyes at the Cheonggyecheon Plaza. In the evening on the last May 2nd, unexpectedly massive citizens and netizens gathered together, lodging a protest against U.S. beef contaminated by mad cow diseases, at a candlelight vigil. Another candle demonstrations coloring the Cheonggyecheon Plaza red with red candlelights, were organized on the following day, and in May 6th evening, similar kinds of rallies were planned to be organized at Yeoido and the Cheonggyecheon Plaza, respectively.
 The series of demonstrations in which the protestors expressed their public opinions against U.S. beef, were found to be outstandingly different from other rallies which had been organized before:
The political views were not important in the series of demonstrations. Many participants who were engaged in the candlelight vigils often said "(before) I have never joined rallies nor demonstrations. But this time I can't stand any more."
The demonstrators are very different from conservative Korean press' points of view about who they are. In this demonstration, not leftists nor anti-U.S. activists, but citizens took the lead, who were concerned about the right to health and thought this new regime made a big mistake during the U.S. beef negotiation. Nevertheless, they are also worried about that their pure intention might be made a bad use of by the existing certain political powers or 'radical activists.' more>>

Korean women workers' forum held for realizing equal pay
for work of equal value and gender sensitive job evaluation

 On May 7th, 2008,  Korean Women Workers Association(KWWA) and Korean Women's Trade Union (KWTU) organized the first Korean women workers' forum entitled "comparative analysis of wage discrimination  prevention systems in the U.S. and U.K. and their implications to Korea", in order to achieve equal pay for work of equal value and gender sensitive job evaluation (presented by professor Oh Kye Taek) at KWWA's seminar room. In this forum, U.S. and U.K.'s legal basis and operating organizations of equal pay for work of equal value, legal explanation and evaluation methods regarding equal pay for work of equal value. more>>

KWWA's Activity Plans & Major Tasks in 2008

 Since the Korean economic crisis in 1997 the words such as globalization, social polarization, working poor people, irregular workers have often been heard in the Korean society. We are living in the tough society where 'economic growth cannot tackle unemployment', 'employment cannot solve poverty' nor 'people cannot overcome the big gaps between regular workers and irregular workers, large-sized companies and very small companies, rich people and poor people, students studying very well and those who have poor scores.' The great majority of women lead a very hard life, but they cannot be linked to the labor movement which usually aims to guarantee lifelong jobs and welfare in the workplace, regular workers, and family wages, which are far from irregular women workers' demands. In order to improve conditions for women workers, there should be affirmative attempts to empower 'women workers, so that they can weave their hopes'. Various forms of movements should be applied to women workers' movement in order to 'introduce fair wages and social securities as means of overcoming the boundary of companies' and 'creating alternative living.' (quoted from The Evaluation of KWWA for 20 Years). more>>

Single parent families, fly high with the wings of hope!
- Outcomes of women single parent families care services -

 Between March 2007 and February 2008, KWWA had supported child care services, house care services, and temporary nursery system in hospital (so-called hospis system) in order that KWWA can help women single parents look for their jobs and can enhance their health and emotional peace. A Korean broadcast station as a social contribution activity financed this project through the Korea Foundation for Women and KWWA and Korean Women’s Associations United carried out the project. Especially KWWA's regional branch organizations in Seoul, Incheon, Pucheon, Ansan and Suwon Women's Organization conducted the specific project. These women's organizations provided care services for 195 families per month and about 2000 families a year, as means of providing single parent families economic and emotional support. more>>

Women workers' situations through counseling analysis
conducted by Hotline for Equality in 2007 

Hotlines for Equality (sited in 8 regions including Seoul, Incheon, Pucheon, Ansan, Masan & Changwon, North Cholla province, kwangju and Pusan) annexed to KWWA, received the total number of 2,353 cases related to female labor in 2007, (except re-counseling and male counseling). If we look at the characteristics of women workers who had counseling with Hotlines for Equality, 74.1% are married and 40.1% are over 40 years old, which means the great majority are middle aged married women. In addition, 62.1% work at very small companies with less than 30 employees and 44.1% are irregular workers.

In terms of contents about counseling, working conditions such as wage delays and unfair dismissals accounted for 62.3% out of the total counseling in 2007, which was the highest percentage, maternity leave 14.1%, sexual harassment at workplace 11.1%, and gender discrimination 7.0%. In the case of changes in the contents about counseling for these 3 years, working conditions related counseling which accounted for 54.9% in 2006, increased dramatically in 2007, but counseling regarding gender discrimination, sexual harassment, maternity leaves, verbal and physical violences decreased a little bit. This shows that working condition related counseling increased due to worsening working conditions for women workers, caused by deepening social polarization and flexibility in the labor market. more>>

A symposium was held under the theme of “examination and vision of
the Korean women workers’ movement for 20 years.”

Women's Day Festival Held in Celebration of 100 years of International Women's Day: "Women, Let's Open the Curtain of New Communities World."

Korean Women's Day Organizing Committee for Celebrating 100 Years of International Women's Day (KWDOC), formed by 167 nationwide women's organizations such as Korean Women’s Associations United (KWAU), Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and Women Corea, hosted Korean Women's Day Festival in celebration of 100 years of International Women's Day on March 8th 2008, under the slogan "Women, let's open the curtain of new communities world." This festival aims to commemorate 100 years of international women's day, to project a sustainable future of the Korean women's movement, and to have good communication with people.
At the ceremony, Wednesday demonstrations organized by the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan won 20th Korean Women's Movement Award, and 'Statement by Korean Women' was declared entitled "Women, let's open the curtain of new communities world."
A big parade and performances were followed to show hope and dream for new communities society. At the parade 5,000 members in 4 different colors, belonging to nationwide women's organizations marched about 3.8 km, along with car parades with the themes of "Women open a world," "Women take action," "Women fly high," and "New communities world." more>>

Korean Women Workers' Movement, Let's Fly High!
- in celebration of 100 years of international women's day,
organized by Working Women's Hope Forum

Bustlingly and tumultuously! Working Women's Hope Forum started like that. Only one direction that the Korean women workers' movement was pursuing is not the only one solution. A new age has come, where we should "accept differences" and people have to be sensitive to the differences." However, we should also speak with one voice on important issues. In this sense, the Korean women workers' movement is not exceptional.
On March 4th 2008, about 70 women workers' activists gather together. In celebration of 100 years of international women's day, 6 member organizations (Korean Women Workers Association (KWWA), Korean Women's Trade Union (KWTU), Korean Womenlink, Korean Women’s Associations United (KWAU), Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) belonging to women workers' solidarity conference prepared for the working women's hope forum, entitled "Korean Women Workers' Movement, Let's Wing Away." In the first session, presentations were made. Each organization leader briefed its tasks and directions of activities for this year, and Dr. Eun Soo-mi and sociologist Lee Joo-hee, as experts gave suggestions about the situations and directions of the Korean women workers' movement. In the second session, participants were divided and carried out discussion by topic. more>>