Changwon City "Efforts to Minimize Citizen Inconvenience and Achieve Labor-Management Agreement"
Cleaning workers from private contractors responsible for collecting and transporting household waste in Changwon, Gyeongnam, began an indefinite strike starting at 4:30 a.m. on the 17th.
The Gyeongnam Federation of Korean Trade Unions (KCTU) General Labor Union held a press conference in front of Changwon City Hall that morning to announce the full strike.
They demanded ▲ implementation of daytime shifts ▲ payment of 250,000 KRW per person as a hazard allowance for incineration workers ▲ resolution of issues such as the embezzlement of service fees by city-contracted companies ▲ expansion of low-floor safety cleaning vehicles ▲ and measures to prevent safety accidents related to rear footboards of cleaning vehicles.
The Gyeongnam branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Democratic General Federation General Labor Union is announcing an indefinite general strike by workers involved in household waste collection and transportation. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
According to the union, the strike involves two workplaces, Dongsung Industry and Seongeun Sanitation Corporation, with about 80 union members working in some areas including Uichang-gu, Seongsan-gu, and Jinhae-gu suspending their duties indefinitely.
Union member consultations for the strike are scheduled at the Changwon Incineration Plant, Jinhae Incineration Plant, and Deokdong Sewage Sludge Incineration Plant.
Jo Yong-byeong, chairman of the Gyeongnam General Union, stated, “The management claims they have no authority to decide on union demands and tells us to appeal to Changwon City, avoiding negotiations, while the city has yet to provide any substantial response. We demand a switch from night shifts to daytime shifts for the safety of cleaning workers and appropriate measures regarding suspicions that citizens’ tax money is ending up in the pockets of private contractors’ owners.”
A city official from the Resource Circulation Division said, “As union members participate in the strike, waste collection will proceed with non-union workers, causing some delays. Considering the rainy season and hot, humid weather, we will prioritize collecting food waste and expedite the collection of volume-based waste bags to minimize inconvenience to citizens.”
He added, “The budget required to meet the union’s demands is substantial, so further review is needed. We will continue related discussions and have held several meetings with field representatives to strive for a collective labor-management agreement.”
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