Songpa-gu Welcomes Ministry of Employment Labor Union Collective Agreement Correction Order

Welcoming the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Announcement on ‘Corrective Measures for Illegal Public Officials' Union Collective Agreements’

Last December’s ‘Unfair Labor Practice’ Accusation Against Songpa-gu Union Also Finally ‘Dismissed’

Songpa-gu Actively Implements Corrective Orders... Efforts to Reestablish Healthy Labor-Management Relations

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) expressed on the 15th its strong welcome for the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s plan announced on the 14th to promote ‘corrective measures for illegal public officials’ union collective agreements’ and stated that it will immediately comply once the corrective orders are issued.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor identified over 50 clauses in the collective agreement signed in 2021 by the National Public Officials Union Songpa-gu Branch (hereinafter Songpa-gu Union) that potentially violate the Public Officials Union Act and announced its intention to issue corrective orders.

Since the inauguration of Mayor Seo Gang-seok in the 8th term of the civilian government, Songpa-gu Office has pointed out the illegality of the Songpa-gu Union violating the Public Officials Union Act, including interference in personnel affairs, and has urged lawful union activities.

In response, the Songpa-gu Union has continuously held protests since Mayor Seo Gang-seok’s inauguration, including in front of the mayor’s residence, the district office, and local event venues, even involving external forces.

In this regard, all 234 senior officials at the team leader level and above at the district office issued statements four times last year requesting the Songpa-gu Union to stop the protests and join the district administration’s efforts for creativity and innovation. However, the Songpa-gu Union continued the protests and instead filed unfair labor practice accusations against nine senior officials, including the mayor, with the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission.

The accusation was finally dismissed on December 27, 2022, with the ruling ‘No grounds in all respects,’ clearly determining that there was no unfair labor practice.

The Songpa-gu Union has appealed for a retrial to the Central Labor Relations Commission and continues to force the Songpa-gu Office to accept collective agreements violating the Public Officials Union Act as before, continuing protests that damage the reputation of Songpa-gu Office and increase inconvenience to residents.

In January, based on the Public Officials Union Act, Songpa-gu Office pointed out the illegality of the previously signed collective agreements and formally urged the Ministry of Employment and Labor to issue corrective orders. The Ministry accepted Songpa-gu Office’s opinion and announced plans to issue corrective orders, which is considered fortunate.

Taking this opportunity, Mayor Seo Gang-seok of Songpa-gu and over 2,000 public officials plan to actively guarantee union activities in accordance with laws and principles, reestablish healthy labor-management relations, and further strive for service administration for residents with creativity, innovation, and fairness as core values.