Nationwide School Non-Regular Workers to Stop Work on the 25th

Gyeongnam School Staff Union Announces General Strike Warning

The National School Irregular Workers' Solidarity held a press conference to announce a nationwide general strike. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Non-regular workers in schools in Gyeongnam have declared a general strike on the 25th.

At a press conference held on the 21st in front of the Gyeongnam Office of Education, hosted by the National School Non-Regular Workers Solidarity Conference, a strike involving 100,000 union members from 15,000 schools nationwide was announced.

The Solidarity Conference includes the National Public Transport and Social Service Workers' Union Education Public Officials Headquarters, the National Women’s Labor Union, and the National School Non-Regular Workers Union.

They demanded ▲ the establishment of legal grounds for the placement standards of school cafeteria workers ▲ the application of welfare allowance payment standards such as holiday allowances equally to public officials ▲ a unified wage system ▲ opposition to the reduction of local education finances.

The Solidarity explained that they requested wage negotiations with the Ministry of Education and all regional offices of education on June 9, and negotiations took place from September to November 9 following procedural meetings in July, but ended in failure.

“We demanded the union’s wage system reform including a fixed basic salary of 32,000 won, a regular bonus of 100,000 won, and a minimum customized welfare allowance of 600,000 won, but these were rejected,” they said.

They added, “The nationwide superintendents of education and the government, elected on pledges such as expanding morning meals and care hours, are turning a blind eye to and neglecting the reality of school non-regular workers. Since the first occupational lung cancer case in 2018, five school meal workers have passed away, and many colleagues are currently battling illnesses.”

They also condemned, “In an era of soaring prices, proposing a 1% increase is an attempt to cut real wages. If non-regular workers must endure unfair discrimination because of their status, the government, National Assembly, local governments, and superintendents of education must take responsibility.”

The Solidarity stated, “We will not stop our struggle unless practical and reasonable measures to eliminate discrimination are prepared,” and “We will continue the general strike into the 2023 new school year.”