Ministry of Education Holds First Meeting After Proposing 'Elementary Care Council'... Will the Second Strike Proceed?

Meeting Scheduled for the 24th
Care Workers' Union "Announces 2nd Strike Warning"

On the 6th, in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, a press conference for the general strike titled "Full-time Conversion of Part-time Care Workers and Victory in Collective Bargaining," hosted by the National Women's Labor Union, is taking place. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Ministry of Education announced on the 22nd that it plans to hold a meeting of the Elementary Care Operation Improvement Council, which includes the Council of Provincial and Metropolitan Superintendents of Education, the Care Workers' Union, and teacher organizations, on the 24th.

An official from the Ministry of Education stated, "We plan to reasonably coordinate and accommodate the claims and demands of each institution and organization," adding, "We will continue to communicate and discuss to establish an all-day care system."

This meeting is the first to be held since the Ministry of Education proposed the formation of the council on the 3rd. Comprehensive reviews will be conducted, including measures to improve the working conditions of care specialists, operation plans for cooperation model projects between local governments and schools, and mid- to long-term institutional improvements related to the operation of all-day care classrooms, all aimed at qualitative improvement of elementary care and reduction of teachers' workload. The National Education Council and parent organizations will also participate.

Earlier, the Care Workers' Union side, the School Irregular Workers Solidarity (Hakbi Yeondae), held a press conference last week warning of a second strike after no meetings were held following the formation of the council. On the 6th, Hakbi Yeondae conducted a warning strike once before.