Press Conference on Female Irregular Workers of Schools
Change low wages paid to female irregular workers of schools by introducing a salary class system! End discrimination in schools!
A few days ago, an elementary school’s principal in Icheon was dismissed. He forced female workers in the school to drink alcohol and pour alcohol into his glass at after-work dining. In a job interview, he asked a female applicant about her bust size and she eventually gave up the position. Female temporary workers are the ones who assist school administration, cook meals for students and faculty, and prepare materials for science lab.
Irregular workers in school are called daily workers from the beginning even though their role is essential and they have worked for a long time. They are paid outrageously low wages while doing the same work, and could not ask for a better treatment. They are off in summer and winter vacation, but it is like to take a long unpaid leave. In 2004, the ‘salary class system’ was introduced, but most irregular workers of schools still do not get credit for their experience and suffer from a widening wage gap with a sense of deprivation.
Low wages are paid to contract workers of schools where women account for more than 90%. This creates a structural problem because it leads to an idea that the work of female workers is menial and it eventually forces female workers to suffer from low wages and poor working conditions. In the society, those doing menial works are considered menial people. No matter how hard they work, workers suffering from low wages and job insecurity hesitate about raising their voice. To bring a change to the unfair treatment of irregular workers of schools, we at Live Women Labor Action, in unity, are committed to putting an end to the ingrained discrimination in school.
National Irregular Workers of Schools Conference (Korean Women’s Trade Union, Irregular Workers of Schools Division in Korean Public & Social Services and Transportation Workers’ Union, and National Irregular Workers of Schools Trade Union) started to fight in unity, staging sit-in demonstrations and holding rallies on April 8. Irregular workers of schools have continuously urged for introduction of a salary class system since 2011. The Ministry of Education and the ruling party have disregarded their demands on the grounds of lack of budget and denial of use of employment.
There is a social consensus that the problem of discrimination against irregular workers of schools is serious. Irregular workers in schools amount to 150,000, making up 43% of total workers in the public sector. They are paid based on the number of work days regardless of years of service, so the wage gap between regular workers and irregular workers gets bigger when the years of service gets longer. For example, a nutritionist who has worked for 10 years as a temporary worker makes only 63% of the salary the counterpart on regular payroll makes.
Faced with the growing demand for the conversion of irregular workers to regular employees, the Park’s administration announced a plan to convert the temporary position in schools engaged in "constant" and "continuous" work into a position with indefinite contract, but paid no attention to the discriminatory salary system. Without a salary class system, indefinite contract workers may be paid low wages. If the government creates more jobs in schools or local care centers by using private contractors, new positions will be filled by female workers suffering from low pay and little job security.
We want a workplace where all workers are treated equally. We want a workplace where female workers are respected. As temporary workers of schools fight in solidarity, it is crucial to attain a salary class system to change the structure of discrimination where women take all low-paying jobs. We can no longer wait for a salary class system. The Ministry of Education has to take responsibility and introduce a salary class system. The public sector should take a lead in making a fair workplace.
Live Women Labor Action is devoted to the elimination of discrimination against temporary workers of schools by leading solidarity of women. We, in unity, strive to achieve a salary class system ahead of a national conference on June 22.
Our demands are below:
1. The Ministry of Education must introduce a salary class system to end the discrimination against temporary workers of schools!
2. The Ministry of Education must have a talk with irregular workers of schools for an introduction of a salary class system!
3. The Ministry of Education must improve the wage system which is unfair to female irregular workers of schools!
April 24, 2013
Live Women Labor Action