"Union Activities Must Be Pre-Consulted"... Kakao Threatens Union Picket Protest

On the morning of the 4th, union members are holding a picket protest in front of Kakao Ajit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

The management of Kakao pressured the Kakao labor union, which took actions such as picket protests demanding management reform, by saying "consult with us in advance about union activities."

The Kakao branch of the National Chemical, Textile, and Food Industry Labor Union (hereinafter the union) on the 6th disclosed an official letter from the CEO of Kakao demanding the suspension of union activities.

In the letter, Kakao stated, "We clearly reiterate that, beyond the scope permitted by the collective agreement with the labor union, we have never granted the right to use, utilize, or occupy any facilities, equipment, or places?whether online or offline?under the company's facility management rights without prior consultation."

Earlier, on the 4th, the union held a picket protest inside and outside the Seongnam Kakao Ajit headquarters, demanding a meeting with Kim Beom-su, the founder of Kakao and head of the Future Initiative Center, who presided over the emergency management meeting. This is the first time since the union's establishment that the management has publicly demanded a ban on activities such as picket protests.

Regarding this, the union pointed out, "The company's first official response to the union's demands for personnel reform and crew (employee) participation, which began last summer, is essentially a request to restrict the union's messages and methods of delivery."

Additionally, Kakao stated in the letter that the union must consult with the company in advance when conducting offline union activities or publishing online posts.

The union rebutted, saying, "This is a demand that infringes on the autonomy of union activities," and added, "The collective agreement stipulates that prior consultation is required only when sending messages to all employees via the company's computer network, so it is difficult to apply this to the current case."

Seo Seung-wook, head of the Kakao union branch, criticized, "It is disappointing that the first official response sent under CEO Hong Eun-taek's name immediately after we held a picket protest timed with the emergency management meeting last Monday was a message to remain silent. I want to ask whether a self-reform plan made without dialogue and consultation has any meaning."

He continued, "Personnel reform of the management that suppresses even the voices of employees demanding genuine reform is absolutely necessary, and we will continue to take action to guarantee employee participation," signaling that union activities will continue.