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Focus
Different Rallies but a Unified Voice
Jin Kyung Bae, Publication Officer of KWWAU
In this opening year of the new century, women workers placed particular emphasis on the celebrations of March 8, International Women's Day. Three nationwide rallies were held. Until last year, the rally was organized jointly by KWWAU, the FKTU (Federation of Korean Trade Unions) and the KCTU (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions).
This year, each organization organized its own rally. On March 5th, KWWAU and the Korean Womens Trade Union (KWTU) jointly organised a "Korean Women Workers' Rally", on March 8th, the FKTU held a "National Women Workers' Rally", and on March 11th, the KCTU held a "National Women Workers' Rally."
Even though three rallies were held in different places and on different days, the message each one sent was the same: calling attention to the problem of the increasing rate of irregular based women workers and in support of maternity protection. All three rallies took the expansion of organization among women workers as their sub-theme.
KWWAU, however, included in its focus the application of the Labor Standard Law in small workplaces with less than 4 workers and the increase of the minimum wage.
KWWAU and the KWTU focused on the problems of women workers in unorganized and poor workplaces and hence, there were some differences in emphases. Each organization worked hard to express their demands in a unified voice, but each unit was able to prepare for the event without spending hours in discussion with other units.
KWWAU suggested to both the KCTU and FKTU that they organize a single joint rally, but it did not work.
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Host
Orgnization |
KWWAU/KWTU |
FKTU |
KCTU |
|
Title of
rallies |
Korea Women Workers' Rally |
National Women Workers' Rally |
National Women Workers' Rally |
|
Theme |
Expansion of organized women workers Guarantee the rights of irregular women workers |
Expansion of
organized women
workers and
realization of equality |
Equal employment
and expansion of
maternity protection |
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Main
contents
of the
statement |
▲Without any discrimination of employment form, full application of the Labor Standard Law and social Insurances ▲Full applica- tion of the Labor Standard Law in workplace with less than 4 workers ▲Stop moving regular base to irregular base
▲Shortening working time and guaranteeing the three labor rights ▲Increase of minimum wage ▲Expansion of maternity leave to 90 days and guarantee for the maternity expenses from the social insurance ▲Counter- measures for the sexual abuse and violent and insulting words ▲Guarantee employment after the maternity leave ▲Expansion of social welfare facilities
▲Strenghten the administrative control over the labor problem of women workers
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▲Struggle for
working 40 hours and 5 days per a week
▲To improve the discriminated wage
and working condition
of the irregular
workers ▲Application of the Labor Standard Law for women
workers ▲Struggle for the realization of maternity protection
in a society
▲To organize women workers in the irregular base, poor workplace, and
unorganized workplace
▲To guarantee the life long labor right
in the light of
equality
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▲Opposing the
irregularization of
women workers
▲Application of four main social insurance and the Labor
Standard Law for the irregular women
workers ▲Stop canceling a monthly leave ▲To extend the maternity leave to 90 days ▲To leave the responsibility of the expenses for birth delivery/ child-care/
child education to
society ▲No more
night work which
destroys maternity
protection ▲To guarantee gender equal employment
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The KCTU said, "The women workers' sector was led by female organization while the trade union movement was in the process of growth. Now we are capable of leading the women workers' movement, and therefore, the KCTU declares KCTU rally of this year as the first March 8th International Women's Day rally." This statement was released in the Daily Labor News on March 6th. (Interview with Ms. Jin Seon Kim, the Chief Director of Women's Department)
We cannot expect the fervent solidarity achieved in 1998 and 1999 unless we try to unite and overcome organizational differences. But, in the event, the new century began with each unit within the organization of women workers declaring its own targets in its own way. One thing remains clear: we shall be struggling for the extension of organization of women workers, restoration of irregular women workers' rights, and the socialization of maternity protection. There is no doubt that we can accomplish our goals if we make wise decisio
ns at every step.
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A big forum for women workers, including a video presentation on the history of the Korean women workers' movement, a performance of 'Oreum', a 'Finale Festival', an announcement of the establishment of the action center of the organization for Irregular Women Workers' Rights, etc. This forum displayed the strength of the struggle for irregular women workers and their legal rights.
KWWAU and KWTU rally (March 5, Yonsei University Conference Hall) |
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All the participants wore violet- colored scarves and marched from the park to Myongdong Cathedral shouting slogans promoting equal employment and the socialization of maternity protection. (Photo by Labor and World)
KCTU Rally (March 12/ Jongmyo Park) |
Rhythmic drumming, a drama by Y대, a performance by Kkoddaji, etc. set the scene for an event in which women encouraged each other and celebrated women workers' day. The FKTU is planning to accelerate its struggle for employment stability and against discrimination.
FKTU Rally (March 8/ Yonsei University) |
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