Changwon City Environmental Workers Go on Strike ... City Vows to Resolve Issue as Soon as Possible

This Year's Wage Negotiations Break Down Due to Large Gap Between City and Union's Wage Increase Proposals

Workers of the Changwon Special City Environmental Public Service, affiliated with the General Labor Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions General Public Federation, began a strike on the 11th after wage negotiations for this year broke down and a union member vote was held.

Changwon Special City Hall.

The city has been making efforts to conclude the negotiations, but the wage increase gap between the two sides was significant. The union insisted on an unreasonable demand for a 30% wage increase. As a result, it was difficult for the city to make progress in negotiations and mediation, leading to a breakdown in the wage agreement. Consequently, disruptions in the collection of recyclables in Uichang-gu and Seongsan-gu are expected to cause inconvenience to citizens.

The city is working with district offices and local towns to implement measures to minimize inconvenience for citizens. They also requested active participation from citizens in keeping the area in front of their homes clean, reducing waste generation, and strictly following the guidelines for separating recyclables when disposing of them.

Choi Youngsook, Director of the Climate and Environment Bureau, said, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this strike is causing to citizens and will do our best to conclude the wage negotiations as soon as possible."

She also urged union members participating in the strike, "Please return to work so that citizens are not inconvenienced."