Union members and families becoming one and making sure to win(Sammi Special Iron's family struggle note)

Sammi Special Iron's located in CHANGWON City is one of the largest companies in the Int'l with about 4,500 workers of which almost 3 000 are labor union members.

The company produces a yearly quantity of iron or l m11110n tons which makes an annua1 income of nearly 500 million won. The total annual income of Sammi group is 800 millon won. The work site of the company is badly heated with a lot of noise and dust and two or three kinds of big industrial disasters break out every year. In addition the workers there have to work three shifts a day. In spite of such poor working conditions, the main reason Sammi special Iron has grown to be such a big company is the result of the workers' greasy sweat. They have toiled despite such an unreasonable working environment

Strike starting with fury of unionists

Nevertheless while the labor union demanded a wage raise of 4.95% less than the 5% of total wage which is the criteria claimed by government, the company took a severe measure of wage freezing and workers slash of more than 1,000 under the excuse of financial difficulties.

Such conduct on the company side drove all of the union members into a rage and they went on a strike from Sept. in order to keep their right to live. Since the strike started, the company side has committed acts of brutality rather than showing its sincere effort to resolve the strike. They locked out the factory. cut off the communication system and blocked food supply and families visits through disployment or law enforcement authorities around the company.

Furious over the acts of cruelty, the unionists organized a reasonable defense force under the direction of leaders leading the strike and selected representative from sections in order to have discussions. Through such an organized response the workers showed their reserved power which resulted in blocking the invasion or law enforcement authorities two times.

The longer the strike went on, the more union members joined in. In spite of blockage of supply by police, union members on the strike formed a supply team of their own ingenuity and provided food voluntarily enough for 2.000 people to survive for 18 days.

To get the food the team had to climb a mountain 4 hours walk away from where they were and waded back and forth through the sea. They showed their creative and clever talents to independently break whatever difficult circumstances they encounted.

Families' struggle to save the strike site

With nothing to start with, unionists of Sammi Special Iron continued to fight capitalist and law enforcement authorities up to 18 days. Above all, what made the struggle possibe was the families' resolute struggles in supporting the unionists on strike.

Hearing their husbands went on a strike, wives came together with their babies carried on their backs and made up a supporting line of the struggle. Facing body search, examination and check-up by combat police, and even worse, falling down under the trampling of policemen's boots, the families resolutely carried out a sit-down demonstration around Changwon bridge, when traffic was paralyzed for about Z hours.

Walking 4 hours in the dark, they have brought first-aid and food to their husbands on strike. In addition when it was expected that law enforcement authorities would involve, they blocked the authorities out a few times in the cold rain with their babies carried on their backs underneath the bridge of Changwon. The families' support gave life to their husbands' struggle.

Demanding a solution to the authorities interruption and blockage of food supply. the families staged a demonstration in Whang Nak Joo's office, a congressman of the area. However, his conduct to try to pass the responsibility for the strike onto the unionists made the families so angry that they went up to Seoul and expanded their struggle all the stronger. However, they were forced out by brutal policemen, which was an unexpected response when considering President Kim's smiling face on T V.

All the more the Sammi Special Iron families made an impressive struggle to support their husbands on strike through fighting to provide food and publicity about the strike. A11 the more impressive, through the struggle of 1400 families were able to meet their husbands at the gate.

Families rising again out of despair

However, in the teeth of the families' bitter wrenching struggles, the government and capitalist trampled down the workers' strike site by use of law enforcement authorities who fo1lowed a helicopter bombing with pepper fog at dawn Sept. 25. Hereby the strike site of l8 day's struggle was conquered by pepper fog.

However, Sammi Special Iron workers and their families' struggle didn't come to an end there. After law enforcement authorities came in, 20 workers couldn't get back home and had to begin another struggle life in a cold jai1, Therefore families of the arrested and the workers on the 'wanted list ' had a meeting with a united purpose.

They also issued 'News of Families' and distributed it to union members. In addition they have formed an active struggle with dismissed workers against mass dismissal of union members and disciplinary punishment such as frontage protest struggle, daily struggle to attend work, collection of funds to support living expenses.

Besides, a lot of people gave a big hands with tears to the workers singing 'True Love' at the evening National Workers Rally on Nov. 7. This also won the grand prize in a song contest under sponsorship of Masan Catholic Women's Association.

Moreover, at the I4th presidential election, they worked as an advisory organization for a fair election in Masan Changwon in order to execute a fair election and developed voluntary activities. That they spent valuable time in cementing further ties with union members with opening 'A Day's Hops' sponsored by the arrested, wanted and dismissed workers' families. ('A Day's Hops' means taking over a place which serves beer, other drinks and snacks so that the profits for the day go to the sponsoring group.)

Now under the ruthless oppression of the company , l37 union workers were put under disciplinary punishment along with 18 arrested workers, 12 wanted, 30 dismissed. , Besides the 69 workers were sued for damages and their retirement grants and their sponsors were put under a temporary possession.

The announcement that the company would reduce l,000 workers this year produced a terrifying atmosphere among workers and such suppression by the company side is expected to become acute. However, the Committee for countermeasures for the struggle of Sammi Special Iron's workers has survived under the suppression and came into a rearrangement of their organization, expecting a joint struggle of their members who would be set free sooner or later.

They also resolved to establish their organization on a firmer footing and to move forward in a resolute way. Combined with the devotional and positive support of their families, news of Sammi Special Iron workers' victory will be conveyed to us for sure.


Korea Working Women's Network 1997
Posted by KWWA
|

Securing lifetime employment through abolition of women bank employee system
Women's Policy Office of the Small and Medium Industry Bank winning the prize for women of the year

View on winning of Mar. 8th women's prize.

The Women Policy Office of the labor union of the Small and Medium Industry Bank received the 7th Mar 8th woman's prize of 1993 established by KWWAU at an event in remembrance of Int'l Women's Day on March 8. the edition department of 'Working Women' visited the women policy room of the small and Medium Industry Bank labor union which has developed voluntary and thriving activities.

When we visited the Labor union located on the l6th floor of the Small and Medium Industry Bank's building, Whang Kyum-Joo (31 years old), the chief of the women's policy room was having an interview with the chiefs of other banks' women's departments. After the interview, sitting with the staff of 'Working Women', Whang Kyurn-Joo expressed her feeling on the receipt of the prize in reply to congratulation greetings given by the staff.

"l am very pleased because the prize was given not to me individually but to our women policy room that is to say, to all of union members. In spite of our short history and experience, what brought this prize to us is interpreted as an affectionate encouragement and interest in office women workers' movement. Therefore, we will do our best even more in the future".

Women Policy Room established through efforts of Labor Union.

'In 1988 when activities of labor unions became intense, the small and Medium Industry Bank's labor union and a direct election for the chair person (6th) for the first time. It caused a new feature for bank labor unions which had had an indirect selection for the previous 30 years. I had graduated from high school and worked in the bank 3 or 4 years when, like position rank system, the disadvantage of the women bank clerk system began to appear one by one.

However, I realized that l couldn't do anything by myself and came to feel that an organization for only women is necessary. I resolved to take the initiative in solving the problems though I was wanting in ability. So l ran in the direct election for the head of the women's department in 1988.

For the first time in bank labor union history, the 6th executive department established a woman vice chief of the committee and increased the number of full time women staff to 3 in order to fulfill the impending demands for abolition or women bank clerk system and securing lifetime employment of women workers. It gave the opportunity to broaden the chance for women to take part in the Labor Union and strengthened the base of organizing activities for women.

"As the 7th executive department started in 1991, the women's department was raised to a women policy office for the purpose of more effective achievement of women's projects.

The women department chief was promoted to the office chief having the power of full time bargaining with increase of staff to 4. Through this the scope of women's activities was extended" said Whwang Kyung-Joo. She also established the action policy of the Women Policy Office to be increased participation or women in the union and also in the struggle or the grassroots masses.

Women union members leading abolition or women bank clerk system to victory

"One or the biggest achievements the women's policy office has achieved through its activities so far is the abolition of the women bank clerk system. Although the law for sexua1 equality was passed in 1988, the reality is that we continue to be discriminated against in terms or employment, promotion and wage. In particular, banks discriminate between women and men even in recruiting. Men were employed as general officers and women were employed separately as women tellers.

The 1abour unions of the government-run banks (Kukmin, Enterprise, Housing, Industry, The Korea mint corporation) claimed in solidarity that the government did not observe the law of sexual employment equality and accordingly demanded an increase of 8% in the scheduled budget in order to eliminate the wage disparity.

More than 1,000 of these members have staged a demonstration for these demands in front or the Planning Department in Kwaucheon. At last, owing to the struggle. the Ministry of Labor declared abolition of the women bank clerk system in banking institutions in 1991. However, in reality it couldn't be applied because or government interference in free bargaining between employer and employee as well as the insincerity of the presidents of banks.

Nevertheless we did not give in. In Sept. of 1992 around 1,000 women union members gathered and held 'An event to move forward to victory', demanding the abolition of the women bank clerk system, implementation or equal salary classification, abolition of the examination for position change, and 100% guarantee for female employees career after coming into the bank.

It was the first large scale rally in the history of banking labor unions. It provided an opportunity for women not only to cry out for 'Participation to achieve' and 'United to live', but also to verify these issues one by one in their realty situation and have the experience of activating them. It also served as a chance to merge together the determination of women in the struggle.

Moreover we waged an educationa1 publicity campaign through posters and leaflets which spurred the struggle for the abolition of women bank clerk system. As a result, we reached an agreement on abolition of the women bank clerk system which was an inspiring achievement.

For securing lifetime opportunity equality

Whang Kyum-Joo who married last year admitted to a certain diffusion of her mind. However, she claimed marriage served as a turning point to think about the activities of the women's department from a new point of view.

'When single, I viewed the activities of the women's department on the 1abour union as struggles for getting a higher wage. However now that l am married, I consider the most important thing to be securing lifetime employment. Nowadays women who retire on account of marriage, pregnancy. baby birth are decreasing in number. Instead, infant care is a serious reason to stop working. Facing this kind of reality, I began to think it was necessary to establish day care centers in order to bring true our dreams of lifetime employment.

Though we have no example of successfully run day care centers at work places yet. we need to develop a plan for the setting up of day care centers suitable to our banks situations. Therefore, at present we are groping for a plan for day care centers which can be open to other banks, to near-by areas and of course to our own bank. To carry out such a project, we will join with activists. professors, 1awyers and other professionals. To form 'an Advisory Committees on Women Policies '. In this way we can get good advice and concrete help."

Judging from her appearance when Whang Kyum-Joo informed us of future project plans in detai1, with passion and determination, the activities of the women policy office of the Small and Medium Industry Bank can be expected to become a model of women activities in the labor union. This will be true during these times of slowed activity in the labor union movement whether there is a difference between the types of job for women or not, whether there is a women's section in the labor union or not.


Korea Working Women's Network 1997
Posted by KWWA
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85th Anniversary on March 8 Int'l Women's Day

Korea Women Workers Association United
Representative Lee Yong Soon


Advocating reform and harmony, our new government has started. The new president has promised to commit himself to enhance the social position of women and has advertised the plan of execution as a public promise on a large scale. However, it is we that have to keep an eye on the execution of the promise and to lead the matter in the right direction. Through firm solidarity, we, women workers should keep on trying to achieve a guarantee for women's life time employment and social equality.

We hereupon celebrate the 85th anniversary or3. 8 Int'1 Women's Day in remembrance of the day when on March 8, 1908 American women workers stood up crying for 'Politica1 equality', 'Wage raise' and 'Forming labor unions' We, women workers pledge ourselves to carry on the spirit of that day and struggle to get the following demands fulfil1ed:

  • Guarantee freedom for labor union activities

  • Objection to mass dismissals, temporary employment and dispatched labor causing insecurity of employment and deterioration of working conditions.

  • Extension of pre & post partum leave to 90 days and guarantee for paid menstruation 1eave.

  • Extension of Day Care Center at work sites and expansion of support for Private Day Care Centers.

  • Enlargement of job opportunities and job training opportunities

  • Abolishment of sexually discriminative education and implementation of sexually equal education.

  • Taking proper measures for dealing with sexual violations, Inquiring into the truth of Jungsindae(Women entertainers for Japanese soldiers) and carrying out reparation for Jungsindae.

  • Curtailment of defense expense and expansion or women's welfare funds

We will make our best efforts to mobilize organized power combined with demands for these to be put into practice. As one of the efforts, we will organize women to increase their rate of participation within the structure of labor union movement. This in turn will create an atmosphere where women's problems are treated with greater importance within the labor union movement and stimulate the tasks that we must carry out.

Women workers!

Let's carry on the spirit of3. 8 Int'l Women's Day and make a strong struggle with a cry for the day when we can be completely assured or women workers' 1ifetime employment and social equality.

A rally in recognition of the 85th anniversary of Mar. 8th In't Women's Day has been held under the joint auspices of each regions' Women Workers' Association, other women associations and labor associations on the issues such as extension of motherhood protection, unemployment insurance and establishment of day care centers at work places.

  1. Program in Seoul area.

    In honor of the 85th anniversary of Mar. 8th Int'l Women's Day. National women workers rally cry for acceleration of women's employment and social equality.

    • Date :March 6, 1992 (Sat. ) P.M. 3:OO
    • Place : Mary Hall in SeoGang University
    • Contents of the program :
      First part : Memorial Ceremony
      Second part : Hanmadang of women workers ; Women workers standing up as masters of work places.
      Invitation Performance : Kim Che1-Ho & Song Factory, Yun Sun-Ae History of Korean Women Workers' movement through photos.
      Drama 'Wishes to Work' : Joong Won EIectronrcs.

  2. Program in Incheon Area.

    '93 Women Hanmadang in honor of Mar. 8th Int'l Women's Day.

    • Date : March 7, 1993 P.M. 2:O0
    • Place : Education Hall of Bupyung Dong Chapel
    • Contest of Program ; Women Song Performance
      Workplaces' song : 'Hospita1, Needlework'
      Slide performance : "Hope for our children"
      Claim : 'Women workers demands to New Government'
      Drama : "World without sexual violation"
      Cheerful Daedong Play (play for unity)

  3. Program in Kwangjoo area.

    Women rally for 85th anniversary of Mar. 8th Int'l Women's' Day.

    • Date : March 8 1993 (Mon.) P.M. 6:3O
    • Place YWCA Main Hall
    • Contest of Program ;
      First part : Memorial Ceremony
      Second part : Cultural Program.
      Employment security, Card section of day care centers' children

  4. Program in Masan Changwon area

    Rally in honor of 85th anniversary of Mar. 8th Int'l Women's' day The 5th Women workers' Han Madang.

    • Sub-theme :`Wishes to live in a world without insecurity or employment
    • Date : March 8, 1993 (Mon.) P.M. 7:OO
    • Place : Catholic Women Hall
    • Contest of Program ;
      First part : Memorial ceremony
      Second part : Cultural Program

      Musical Drama -Theme of sexual violation (Kyung Nam women's' association)
      Leading Dance -Girls student association of Changwon Univ.
      Drama -Family struggle against insecurity or employment. (Sammi Special Iron)

  5. Program in Busan Area.

    The 4th Women Han Madang in honor of 85th anniversary of Mar. 8th Int'l Women's Day

    • Date : March 7, 1993 (Sun.) P.M. 2:OO
    • Place :Hyowon Hall in Busan Univ.
    • Contest of Program ;
      First part : Memorial Ceremony
      Second part :
      Musical Drama -Stable work place, World full or hope to live
      "What about our dance talent?" -Guitar Performance, Songs Performance
      Drama -Theme of 'Sexual Violence, Comfort women for Japanese soldiers "A word from me"


Korea Working Women's Network 1997
Posted by KWWA
|