[vol.5] Voices from the Field_ CONSUMER BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN FOR LG DISMISSED WORKERS TO RETURN TO THEIR JOBS

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:41
CONSUMER BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN FOR LG DISMISSED WORKERS TO RETURN TO THEIR JOBS
The LG group had dismissed 53 workers during the 5th and 6th Republics. They were dismissed because they participated in labor union activities. Last December, the group also dismissed 81 workers of Songyosa Inc., a subsidiary of the LG group, in Pusan. Under the government's globalization policy, "new management reform" and "new personal management system" business strategies have been the major cause of dismissing workers.

During this time, dismissed workers of the LG group have set up a sit-in tent in front of the Twin Building, the main building of the LG group, in Youido, Seoul, and demanded their reinstatement to their former positions. Some of them even carried a baby on their back during the struggle.

However, policemen and LG security guards forcibly removed tents, where workers were temporarily staying, from the front of the LG company. Dismissed workers even slept on the street covering themselves with newspapers, and they never give up the struggle for reinstatement to their former positions.

However, the LG group has not taken any measures to solve this issue. A band of thugs directed by the LG group was sent to violently harrass dismissed workers several times. Over 300 "gangsters" cruelly beaten five workers causing severe bruising.

Their ribs also were broken. Moreover about 10 'gangsters' caught one person and wounded his back with a live cigarette. It obviously was like a hell and is not the action of human beings. The dismissed workers sued the "gangsters." At the same time, LG group also sued the victims. This was terrible!

Consumers of products of the LG group, who knew of this immoral action done by the LG group and the critical situation of dismissed workers, gathered in front of the main building of the LG group on May 2nd, and May 22nd. Over 100 housewives urged the LG group to recover their morality and to solve the problem of dismissed workers.

LG consumers held a picket line and a rally supporting a letter of protest to the LG group president, Ku Pon-sung. With the election of the civilian government, many dismissed workers have been reinstated across the country. However, the LG group has ignored this reality.

Then, how can the LG group say that they love consumers, even though they cannot love their family members such as dismissed workers? LG consumers said that if the dismissed workers are not able to return to their former jobs, then they will co-operate with housewives, students and women's associations and carry on various protest activities including telephone calls and a consumer boycott.

The LG group, which used to advertise that, "consumers are the best decision makers," said to reporters that, "the participants of the rally got paid 20,000 won per person by dismissed workers." It also shouted that, "we don't need consumers like you." This is a clear infringement of the consciousness and human rights of consumers.

One participant, who is a neighbor of a dismissed worker, said that "someone worked very faithfully for the village, and later I found out that he was a dismissed worker of the LG group. Today I am here to help him with a clean heart. We, consumers will not buy products of bad companies, because our consciousness has been raised. We know what is wrong or right. Workers produce goods we use everyday, so how can they be dismissed due to their participation in labor union activities."

The LG group, which has been threatened by consumers' active support of dismissed workers as well as workers' struggle, fabricated an incident on April 19 and filed a law suit against a worker on the grounds of business interference and defamation. He was forcibly arrested by 'gangsters' of the LG group. I, as one of fired workers, feel very sad because this is the real face of the LG group.

Ironically, belief in human respect has been their catch phrase for years. Dismissed workers and their family members have suffered from dismissal for periods of as little as several months to seven or eight years. Their suffering is indescribable and inexpressible. They still have a long and rough struggle ahead.

However, we have been encouraged by a rally by consumers. It proves that our struggle has gained the support from the general public. We also planned another rally at 5 pm. on June 7. LG customers, labor unions, dismissed workers, and students will ask for the release of arrested workers and the reinstatement of dismissed workers at the front of Anyang station. The purpose of the rally will be to expand the struggle to a nationwide level. Today, I will also work untiringly in order to help arrested and dismissed workers and to make the world a place worth living in.

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[vol.5] Voices from the Field_EXTENSION OF WORKING HOURS BY 46 MINUTES IS AN OBVIOUS REFORM OF THE SYSTEM.

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:38
EXTENSION OF WORKING HOURS BY 46 MINUTES IS AN OBVIOUS REFORM OF THE SYSTEM.

Korea Sony Electronics Association for Workers' Union Democracy

  • Sony Workers' Union members block the extension of working hours by 46 minutes.

    The wage and collective bargaining agreement of Korea Sony Electronics was finalized on June 8th. During the negotiations, several protest campaigns against the extension of working hours by 46 minutes had been organized, which finally resulted in the proposed system of working hours not being implemented. Here is a struggle story and its concrete process of how the union members and the Association for Workers' Union Democracy (AWUD) succeeded.

  • Sony 'yellow' workers' union leadership suggested that the working hours system should be reformed by extending working hours by 46 minutes a day, and having Saturday off.

    The wage increase struggle of KSE starts every April. The Sony workers' union had drafted a 12% wage increase and collective bargaining agreement through the May 2nd emergency representatives' meeting.

    At the meeting, the union leadership did not give any background on the collective bargaining draft and the union president merely gave a short opening speech.

    It revealed the real face of the yellow union leadership. At the end of the meeting, the leadership displayed the results of a union members' questionnaire which was carried out in March and decided to reform working hours by extending time by 46 minutes per day and taking Saturday off as part of the collective bargaining draft.

    According to them, 76% of union members supported this new system. Moreover, to implement this system the workers would have to start work at 7:42 in the morning. Regarding the new system, there were many questions from the democratic representatives such as, "Is there any alternatives for the workers who do not live close to the factory, and for day-night shift workers?" However, the union president's response to this question was to suggest that workers should move closer to the company, and that there was no other alternative for shift workers.

  • Expansion of vocational training for the improvement of the capacities of women

    With the 21st century fast approaching, the century of information and technology, women workers cannot remain as minimum wage laborers with low-skilled jobs. Now, working women strongly wish to have a professional lifelong career.

    Considering this, the KWWAU will unite with each regional women workers' association to investigate the state of acknowledged vocational training centers within the company, and to draw up plans on the development of women's occupations, encouraging the re-employment of married women and planning specific alternative policies on the expansion of women's vocational training.

  • An extension of working hours by 46 minutes is an obvious reform to the system.

    We, Sony AWUD, defined this 46 minutes extension as a reformed working hours system, and examined the issue through the problems and influence it would have on union members. Firstly, if the system of starting work 46 minutes earlier is passed, the workers who live a long way from the company and women workers who must accompany their children to school will be forced to leave the company.

    Secondly, although the workers work 46 minutes more every day, there would be no overtime work allowance, so it is a new working hours system.

  • How the AWUD organised counter-activities against this proposal.

    On May 3rd, there was a presentation at the representatives meeting regarding the wage increase and collective bargaining agreement. During the presentation, the union members expressed their complaints about the low wage increase and the extension of working hours by 46 minutes.

    Therefore, the union members of Factory 2 started a protest visit to the union office during the lunch break. It was continued for three days with the participation of 40-50 union members. However, this protest visit was organized only in Factory 2. Therefore, the union members in Factory I who had no awareness about the problems which would be caused by the new working hours system were positive about this new system.

    Sony AWUD realized the necessity of sharing the problems of the new system with those workers, and distributed a leaflet about this under the name of Sony AWUD, on May 9th, in order to explore the real purpose of the present union leadership. It was only distributed once, but it was very effective.

    Since the union members could not get any information regarding the background of the wage increase and collective bargaining agreement this year, the union members were open to receiving the hidden story. Further, a signature campaign against the new system was conducted.

    From May 9th to May 12th, 1,100 union members joined in this signature campaign throughout the two factories. While the campaign was going on, the yellow union leadership tried to obstruct it in many ways.

    As the signature campaign grew, the Sony workers' union held an executive committee meeting for two days, on May 12th-13th, where the union leadership falsely suggested that they had never finalized the proposal to begin work early to implement the new system.

    They decided to punish those three representatives who had conducted the signature campaign. At this point, we, the AWUD, distributed another leaflet which said that the Sony workers union leadership was trying to implement the reformed working hours system which would only give suffering to workers and revealed the real face of the yellow union leadership. The leaflet also confirmed the necessity of AWUD existence.

  • The extension of working hours by 46 minutes per day was retracted.

    The 1995 wage increase negotiation of KSE was finalized with a one-sided victory to the company. However, the daily 46 minutes working hours extension which was suggested by the present union leadership was turned down due to the protest activities of the union members and AWUD. However, the struggle has not ended yet, and the company will not give up their intention to reform working hours. The company has said the new system will become part of regulations.



    Through this struggle, we recognized again the truth of union members' united power. We anticipate our struggle will become harder and harder but we, the Sony Association of Workers' Union Democracy, will unite with workers' struggles in the region as long as workers' suffering exists. Thank you very much for the solidarity from the workers in the region.

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[vol.5] Voices from the Field_DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE ON THE GROUNDS OF GENDER SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:35
DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE ON THE GROUNDS OF GENDER SHOULD BE ABOLISHED
I have worked at Youngchang Instrument Company for seven years in Gachoe-dong, Inchon city. I am a woman worker who has formed a countermeasure committee in order to solve the problems of unreasonable wage differentiation between men and women, as well as between manufacturing and office workers.

As I write this article, I would like to point out the many contradictions in our social systems and practices which have been hidden under the slogan of globalization. I want to talk about our struggle to correct the contradictions prevailing in our society.

I graduated from high school, but failed to enter university. With a heavy heart, I started to work at Youngchang Instrument Company on March 25, 1988. Youngchang has been famous for its advertisement of "clear, pretty sounding Youngchang piano."

The company produces the largest quantity of pianos, guitars, electric organs and woodworking tools in Korea. About 3,200 employees work for the company.

My job was to process and assemble an internal part of piano, through a conveyer system. At first, I could not go fast enough to match the flow of the conveyer. I wanted to stop work immediately and go home. However, my seniors, I called them sisters, laughed at me and said, "You will be all right after a few days. Is there any easy work in the world?" They really encouraged me.

The word, labor union was very strange to me when I started work. However, I joined the labor union in 1992. Among the 40 members of my section, several workers have been elected as executives of the labor union, in public relations or as the women's representative. In September 1992, I became a woman representative.

After the wage negotiation in June, 1992, there was a wage gap between men and women. According to the agreement, a 13% wage increase and a long service allowance were promised. However, only male workers received the long service allowance, hence female workers did not receive any of the long service allowance paid by the company. The reason was that in general, the wages of female workers have been higher than that of other companies. Even some executive members of the labor union and office workers received more money than the promised long service allowance of 13%.

Throughout, the company has promulgated a slogan of, "Youngchang family and unity between labor and management". It also asked us to work hard as and in return promised good and respectful treatment for workers. However, its slogan seemed to be superficial, because it sought more profit through its system of wage discrimination between male and female workers, and manufacturing and office workers.

It obviously violated the collective agreement as well as the Labor Standard Law Article 6 and Equal Employment Law Article 6 Clause 2.

In the meantime, we distributed fliers several times urging that wage discrimination should be eliminated during the wage negotiation period in April 1995. On the other hand, since the issue provokes problems of violation of the Equal Employment Law, we submitted the case to the Women Workers Association in Inchon, Korean Women Workers Association, and other women's associations.

The written document was sent to the Labor Ministry. However, the company said that our activity was illegal and we have been oppressed severely. Still most of the labor union members accepted and supported our struggle. Without no success, the collective bargaining ended on May 3.

On April 8, the issue of wage discrimination between male and female workers and discrimination on the starting wage were submitted to the employment mediation committee of the Labor Union. We and the company agreed upon the proposal of the mediation committee.

The agreement said that, "The failure to fulfill the collective bargaining agreement in 1992 should be corrected within the year. Further discrimination in the starting wage should be abolished when male and female workers produce the same value under the same working condition."

The labor and management negotiations started on July 11th several issues including wage discrimination between men and women were discussed. The issues were as follows: 400% of unpaid bonus for workers who have been employed for less than one year and overtime payment on Saturday.

The company promised to give the unpaid bonus in October. Due to this success, we distributed fliers to male workers to help them understand the necessity for the same starting wage for men and women. There are still some male workers who do not agree about this in the labor union

Regardless of gender, workers should unite to receive just value for their work. Workers are one even though they have different types of occupation. Discrimination should be abolished immediately. We will surely win our struggle and we will hoist the flag of a democratic labor union soon.

Posted by KWWA
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[vol.5] Report_International Women's Day (March 8): The 11th Korean Women's Rally - "Celebration for women and men voters"

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:34
International Women's Day (March 8): The 11th Korean Women's Rally - "Celebration for women and men voters"

On March 12th in early spring, I attended the, "Celebration for women and men voters" and became so excited I forgot about how cold it was. Photos which were on display around the venue showing violence against women in the home made people who were just passing by serious. In another place the Korean Society for Democracy and Sisterhood, an housewives' cultural group, presented a drama where women were clumsily dancing with their babies and lives on their backs. To see this drama gave us strength.

Sunny smile of members of Women Workers Association who participate in the "Men and Women Votes Rally"

3.8 International Women's Day was established to commemorate the fact that many American women workers who worked in the textile industry died miserably in bad working conditions. Now in many countries this day has become a big event, with whole family participation.

However in Korea it has not yet reached this level. Nevertheless in Korea it has developed from women's struggles, demands, and assembly to become a festival of culture and solidarity.

In the first session each participating group introduced its role and activities, and raised and waved their banners, and a representative of each organisation introduced herself to everyone. This helped me to understand the other organisations.

Following this, there was an opening address by Han Myung-Sook, Co-representative of Korean Women Association United, who explained the slogan of the opening ceremony, "Let's send women candidates who propose open politics and life politics to the local elections".

Owing to the end of the Cold War Era, at the present time democracy is prevailing all over the world. Even in Korea democracy is developing out of the previously closed system of military authority dictatorship and chauvinism. In the 21th century, because of the importance of pursuing higher standards of living, public welfare in all areas will be a political issue.

Nowadays the political participation of women is positive and highly encouraging. From a logical point of view, the slogan, "Let's guarantee 20% participation of women in the Local Councils!" was created. In the next session three people explained their own experience of political participation. Each person was limited to three minutes each but their presentations impressed me more than any other theoretical claims. However the highlight of this year will be the "Announcement of fourteen women candidates who are earnest workers in local community"! They have already achieved solutions to many local problems while working hard in every area of this country, and will run for the local councils on behalf of their local community and women.

Isn't the political participation of these women a source of hope because they have strong careers and strong wills in their role as local workers? When some of the husbands of these fourteen candidates expressed their support of their wives in the elections, they were given a large round of applause.

When the "Celebration for men and women voters" declaration was read aloud, we shouted unanimously once again the slogan "Open politics and life politics, send women representatives to the Local Assembly!"

As I left the rally after three hours of participation, I said in spite of myself, "Politics is not a difficult thing!", "Let we women participate and make it more valuable for society!"

Posted by KWWA
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[vol.5] Report_Attending the 1995 National Women Workers' Rally

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:32
Attending the 1995 National Women Workers' Rally
The 1995 National Women Workers' Rally was held on 11 March at Yonsei University organised by the preparatory committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The focus of this rally was to promote lifetime equal employment for women at the workplace in remembrance of the 87th 3.8 International Women's Day. Five hundred people participated.

The event provoked new emotions because for the first time a women workers' rally was organised not by women workers but by the preparatory committee for the KCTU. The establishment of the KCTU this year has historical significance in the history of the Korean Labor Movement.

The meeting was divided into an anniversary ceremony and cultural events by women workers. During the anniversary ceremony, co-representative Park Yong-Mok indicated that the Government labor policies which emphasised globalization increased the severity of women's employment instability endangering the successful results of the struggles by women in the past over such issues as the abolition of women bank employees' system, and the establishment of gender equality in employment law.

He also suggested that the KCTU would provide a powerful forum, where all union members of the KCTU would solve the problems of women workers together. The co-chairperson of the National Trade Union of Professional Workers, Heo Chang, stressed that the reinforcement of women's solidarity through strengthening women committees and women offices was a short term way of solving women's problems, and that women and men must work together before the problems could really be solved.

Lee Young-Soon, a representative of KWWAU, also emphasized that the labor union movement had to reflect on its indifference, coolness and unco-operativeness with regards to women labor problems and criticized the short-sightedness of seeing women problems as splitting labor movements.

Above all, she emphasized that to be a potent organization for workers, the KCTU must do its best to address the women workers' problems which traditionally had always been treated as a secondary issue.

Next, Lee Jae-Sook, Korea head of women's section in the Telecom Labor Union, presented their demands to, "Enforce paid menstruation leave and child-rearing leave!", "Assure employment stability and employment equality for women!", "Enforce the establishment of workplace childcare centers and extend existing centres!", "Establish industrial unionism and the KCTU!" The strong presentation of these demands encouraged participants.

The play, "You are the professionalists", which was performed in the second part of the rally further inspired participants. In this play a female worker was given a huge round of applause from the participants in the rally when she represented a tired woman's reality in which she had to perform housework and outside work simultaneously. The 1995 National Women Workers Rally was closed with the performance of the musical "To the hopeful future".

No one can disagree that women workers have devoted themselves to the labor movement in a most tenacious and co-operative way. Nevertheless, employment instability which women workers face is caused by factors like the insufficiency of maternity protection, increasing use of dispatched workers and part-time employment, exclusion of job-training objectives. Until now the labor union movement has not dealt with these problems which all severly affect working conditions.

Through this 1995 National Women Workers rally, we reaffirmed that we would accomplish our goals for lifetime equal employment, overcoming the reality of employment instability. We all hope that the KCTU which will be launched this year will take an even more positive interest in and seek to find solutions for women workers' problems.

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[vol.4 ] Working Women Vol.4

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:32

Working Women Vol.4

March, 1995

Seeing the smiles of a child and a teacher in Triplets Children's House,
we pray for childcare enlarged by government in this year.

    Feature
    The 10th Photo Story on Women

    Voices from the Field
    Voices from the Arrested Railway Worker's Family

    A field report
    Restriction on External Features, A Violation of Men & Women Equal Employment Law

    Planning
    Automation Influence Towards Women Workers

    Women are changing, the world is shifting
    Environment Lady Lee Yeon-rhee

    Letter from the shop floor
    Shoulder Pain or Paralysis is the Obvious Occupation Disease

    Advocacy
    Reality of Gender Discrimination in the Labor Union

    Poem
    When there is time to pull down, there is time to build

    Korea Working Women's Network 1997
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[vol.4] Poem_When there is time to pull down, there is time to build

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:31
When there is time to pull down, there is time to build

It's not a road if you can't go
It's not a door if you can't open
It's not a wall if you can't pull down
It's not a river if you can't cross


Share happiness and sorrow
Walk step by step for a long way
Walk a way, Walk a way
Walk a way of the liberated world


Have an opportunity as much as we work
Get paid as much as you work
Share the things as much as you have
Walk a way, walk a way of the equal world


Take a rest when you walk a rugged mountain road
Make your way when you tread a thorny path
Build a new road and go when a road comes to a dead end
Walk a way, walk a way of the free world


Seek a new path, go straight along the just way of a struggle
Walk a way, walk a way of the unified world
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[vol.4] Advocacy_ Reality of Gender Discrimination in the Labor Union

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 2. 1. 10:30
Reality of Gender Discrimination in the Labor Union

  1. Why this issue of gender discrimination in the labor union is raised as a problem?

    The government has focused on the practice of gender equality in employment among the women labor policy.

    Since the Labor Department has carried out self-inspection on it for two years, and collective bargaining agreement on it has been revised, however there are still a lot of cases of unequal treatment to male and female workers.

    The union itself is the most powerful group to solve this issue, but there are lots of practice of gender inequality even inside the union. We want to point about right this.

    Because, if the gender discrimination in the union doesn't be disappeared, then we can't demand to the government or company regarding this issue. Another facts, the westem labor union movement which women built up their independent union excluding men, also is warning to our labor union movement. We point this, too.

    In the women academy, it has been already discussed the necessity of women labor union. Now, gender discrimination can not be covered any more.

    'Working Women' reveals the reality of gender discrimination in the labor union case by case. This is to develop practicing gender equality and labor union movement in Korea.

    Thanks to women union leadership who helped us in this writing.

  2. Gender Politics in the Labor Union

    1. The story from the women leadership in the labor union in the large company

      I'm only one woman 'n 'he union leadership. In the leadership training meeting, I proposed to publish 'Women Newsletter'. There was no immediate reaction from others.

      So l tried to produce the Women Newsletter, then the men opposed to do it. And when l introduced a few times about the Equa1 Employment Law between male and female in the union newsletter, the men reacted 'it seems union is only for women'. When I got a wage increase for women (very big gap between male's and female's wage) then the men reacted like that, too.

      The other day, two women went to overseas training. It was the first time for women to go there since the establishment of union. In the past, there was no women participants, because the men said , after coming back from overseas training, women easily leave the company. Even as for the new-enterers training program, we can't offer the education on women."

      Women are taking hardness in struggling against the company, however she has been faced a lonely struggle on such a discrimination against women inside the union. She is trying to organize regular women workers meeting, and to share with another women 1eadership from different companies.

    2. Women's consciousness-raising is it threatening to the labor union?

      "Why this consciousness-raising program, which is to increase women's awareness and solve the problems in the shop floor, has been opposed by men leadership in the union?

      Although the men leadership receive an invitation for women from the Federation of Labor Union, they don't pass it to the women leadership. The Federation sends an invitation for women participants to about 800 unions, then only two women comes."

      "It's very hard to organize an education program for women leadership which just once a year. It was opposed by men because of financial problem. Women have to struggle for organizing that once a year against men in the union. This kind of split in the union is beneficial only to company."

    3. Instability of Employment has not been a main issue in the union.

      Though the temporary workers have been increased day by day, the instability of employment issue can be less important than the issues of wage or welfare.

      Besides, the temporary workers are excluded on in the struggle. If men is employed on working hours base, and cannot join in the union because of that, then, how the men will react on it?

      If tens of thousand workers in the rub industry became an unemployed in a day, and if they are all men, then? It's very heart-breaking situation. It must been the issue for the labor union movement. Since the women have been experienced such crisis of emp1oyment in first hand, this case has been reduced or excluded in a labor movement.

    4. Don't hurry, you have to wait for one thousand years to get a gender equality?

      In a bank labor union, 1993, when women union members demanded same wage level with men who have high school background, men took a group action like going out from the union. It should be confirmed for women to get a full working years.

      During working hours, men had a sit-in strike in the labor union office to oppose the confirmation of women's full working years. At the end, women's demand was ignored.

      In a manufacturing company, l993, the retirement age for men was 55 years old, and was 52 years old for women before the change of collective bargaining agreement. In the past, a woman called a suit against the unjust retirement age, and she won the suit.

      And another two women were reinstated after forced-retirement. However, during the retirement the wage was not paid to two women, so now it's on a suit again. One of women union leadership who consulted for these two women had been threatened by men leadership.

      In case of male dominated union. and its leadership is all men, if a woman is ful1- time based member, then the primary work for her is like a secretary or an errand girl, In spite of her will to devote for the union work, she was regarded as a girl for copy, coffee and cleaning. In case of female dominated union, there is no such a case.

      In one electronic company in Seou1, the union got a collective bargaining agreement after 20 times of negotiation on having a day care center inside the company. It was a result by campaign and various organized activities.

      However, it was faced to men's opposition. After the company agreed to have a day care center but didn't confirmed the time of establishment. It was because of men's reaction against the women's activities.

      Finally, women won. It was a motivation for men and women to aware that child caring is socia1 responsibility and motivation for men and women solidarity.

  3. Male Oriented Labor Union and its Limitation

    If women get more then men get less, it is true? If a men leadership who do democratic support for the women's activities, then they are isolated by other men. Then, the union struggle is not whether it's yellow or genuine, but whether it's for men or for women?

    The idea of men's dominated union activities has been intensified by division of male and female work, and by family wage ideology. Beyond this economic ways of thinking, the society also goes for men against women.

    If the labor union which is public for the social equality takes actions on gender discrimination, then union is getting far away from women. Women's leadership will be weak. At last, this leads union to have a weak organizing of labor power. Furthermore, it makes delay practice of equality in this land.

Posted by KWWA
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[vol.4] Letter from the shop floor_Shoulder pain or paralysis is the obvious occupation disease

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 1. 30. 18:34

Shoulder pain or paralysis is the obvious occupation disease

Ms. Hwang Ki-ok, Daewoo Electronics in Kwang-ju

Got heavy shoulder pain after 8 years of working

I have worked in the micro-wave section of the Daewoo Electronics, Kwangju factory for 8 years and three months. The factory is located in Hanam Industrial Estate in Kwangju region.

Since the factory rationalization has been proceeded, the labor intensity has been strong because of shortening the length of working line, reduction of the working process and reduction of workers. So, most of workers who have worked there for more than 6~7 years are doing just simple labor intensive works.

At that time, I was one of the representative committee members, and l distributed a leaflet saying that shoulder paralysis should be regarded as an occupational disease. As for the company, since they didn't want to make any trouble, they started to survey on the people in microwave working line. Some workers including myself were checked by a doctor.

However, there was no further follow-up. The company just said to us 'Wait' so, we asked to the industrial disease insurance center about the check-up result. It says 22 workers are all 'Ieve1-C', among them 5 workers should be transferred to another working line.

Asked for the sick leave due to the occupational disease

The workers who should be transferred to another working line applied an industrial disease case, and demanded all union members to be checked by a doctor. And working environment such as unsuitable chair and working board must be changed, they demanded, as well.

The company, finally, decided to let workers be checked in the clinic, and promised to allow workers not to work during the treatment period. However, production line still forced to workers to be on line, there was no further reaction from the clinic. Therefore we, workers handed out application for leave by industrial disease, and asked to company to sign on lt.

The company threatened workers

The company showed us one document from the Office of Labor Affairs. The document reads 'These people are required a recheck-up after four weeks. Although they apply an industrial disease leave, the Labor Department wouldn't take it.'

And the office management added they are extremely busy because of leg-broken or arm-broken, patients shoulder pain is not serious problems. We checked to the Office of Labor Affairs whether the document in true or not, however it was proved to be a false. How angry !

Based on these stories, we sent a petition to the Office of Labor Affairs, but the company threatened those workers who signed in the petition. Finally l was left alone. I was forced to move out from this clinic. Although I appealed to the clinic about my pain, but they refused my request of detail check-up.

I will continue to fight for this case

At this moment, I gave up to be treated my shoulder pain and returned to work. I requested to management for 3 days to move my working line, but it was ignored. In this process union members encouraged me to move my working line.

I will really accomplish this case which shoulder pain (or even paralysis) should be regarded as an occupational disease.

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[vol.4] Women are changing, the world is shifting_Environment lady Lee Yeon-rhee

WORKING WOMAN 2008. 1. 30. 18:30
Environment lady Lee Yeon-rhee
(She took initiative in a struggle against building a waste-burning facilities)

Oct, 26th, 1992, 150 neighbors in Samjung dong, Puchun City, gathered at the Center of the Village. It was a sign of resolution that they have to do something on power plant construction. A dangerous and harmful waste-burning facilities as well as power plant will be constructed in that village, therefore their struggle has been lasted for more than one year.

Lee Yeon-rhee, 48 year-old lady who was elected as a chairman of the 'Counter Activities Council against the Construction of Waste Burning Facilities' lost her parents during the Korean War. Since then, she had to survive through hard living. Owing to her diligence and saving, she could buy a house after she got married.

She entered the Pico company to earn more money. However, the company owner ran away to the U.S. without paying wages for the workers. So she joined in the labor union leadership and kept on her struggle against the unjust treatment to the workers. At the time of almost ending Pico struggle. Samjung dong issue was raised.

Although there have been lots of disturbing things, finally the people could get a detai1 information about the power plant. More shocking facts are; huge waste burning facilities will be constructed near the on going power plant. And cargo parking lot and factory apartment will be constructed, too.

Moreover, dioxide will come out from the waste burning facilities. It is very fatal harm to human. However, there is no prevented measures suggested.

Since the people knew the facts, they elected a chairman and sent a petition to many groups opposing the construction of waste burning facilities.

In fact, Puchun City have carried out the construction of waste burning facilities on the basis of the fact that Puchun citizens dump their waste 1 ,750 ton (2.5kg per one person), a day. But, the actual amount of waste is 75O ton (1 .2kg per one person)s day, and has been getting decreased in rea1.

Lee Yeon-rhee realized that recycling waste is more important than burning waste in order to make green environment. And she had a strong belief of; construction costs for the waste burning facilities can be used for the construction of recycling waste factory.

Apri1, 1993, through the church environments institutes, she had an opportunity to visit around the Japanese waste burning facilities. It was introduced by a human rights organization in Japan. She could have an idea on how waste is recycled. After visitation, she presented useful cases to many people. At last, the construction of waste burning facilities was stopped for the time being.

Puchun City organized an open forum inviting experts on environment. Sep. 17th 1993, the people organized a demonstration in front of city ha11, however about 50 people including Lee were arrested by the police. Many people visited her in a jai1 in order to give her a hope. She was very sorry to her daughter not to take care of her. Her husband didn't visit her even once, because he opposed to her activities since she joined in the Pico struggle.

When she was released from the jai1, it was Nov. 30th, the day of her daughter's entrance examination for university. After release from the jai1, she found the construction of waste burning facilities has been confirmed, but she didn't just sit down. She found the 'Green Village Committee' on March 5th, 1994 with her neighbors who joined in the struggle.

After a result of struggle, the committee could have a welfare center, where there are swimming p001, recycling waste facilities, day care center, study room, wedding hall, conference room and sports facilities. And the committee is preparing for a public hearing on evaluation of environment influence and for inspection of the waste burning facilities.

Posted by KWWA
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