Two Major Federation Public Sector Unions Hold 12,000-Person Anti-Privatization Protest in Front of National Assembly

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Countermeasures Committee of Public Sector Labor Unions of the Two Major Federations (Gongdaeui) urged the National Assembly on the 2nd to amend the "Act on the Operation of Public Institutions" (Gongunbeop) and enact the "Anti-Privatization Act."

On the same day at 2 p.m., Gongdaeui held the "Joint Labor Struggle Resolution Rally of Public Workers of the Two Major Federations" in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, demanding the government to "guarantee the substantive collective bargaining rights of public workers in accordance with the recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO)."

They emphasized, "The wage and working conditions decision committee of public institutions, in which unions participate, must be changed to make decisions democratically," adding, "Institutionalizing labor-management negotiations through the amendment of the Gongunbeop is the first key to securing the democracy and public nature of public institution operations."

According to Gongdaeui, the ILO recommended to the government in June and November this year to change the system to allow union participation in the process of establishing government guidelines.

They also pointed out, "The government's public institution innovation guidelines, restructuring, and reform of the job performance-based wage system further reduce the public nature of public institutions and lead to transferring public services to the private sector."

The rally was attended by an estimated 12,000 people according to the organizers (6,000 according to the police).

Participants held placards reading "Stop Privatization, Job Performance Pay, and Restructuring," "Amend the Gongunbeop, Achieve Labor-Management Negotiations and Staffing," shouting slogans such as "Oppose harm to the public, special favors to conglomerates, and privatization restructuring of public institutions," and "ILO also recognized it, implement labor-management negotiations."

A performance tearing large banners labeled "Job Performance Pay," "Privatization," "Restructuring," and "Labor Suppression" also took place.

Gongdaeui announced, "We plan to launch a full-scale legislative struggle after today's resolution rally."

Meanwhile, the police ordered the rally to maintain noise levels below the standard after measuring noise during the event that exceeded the limit and instructed the cessation of the use of loudspeakers and other devices. During this process, a brief standoff occurred between the police trying to deliver noise cessation orders to the organizers and the participants.

The police plan to investigate the rally organizers on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act for disobeying the order to stop using loudspeakers and other devices.