15-Day Mediation Period Following Breakdown of Collective Bargaining Negotiations
If Mediation Fails, Simultaneous Strike on the 29th
The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) announced on the 24th that a general strike was approved with 91% in favor following a strike action vote conducted from the 19th to the 23rd of this month across 61 hospital workplaces.
A total of 24,257 out of 29,705 members (81.66%) from the 61 workplaces participated in the vote, and among them, 22,101 (91.11%) voted in favor.
The KHMU explained, "Such a high turnout and approval rate reflect the urgent demands of union members who have endured by putting in manpower amid a medical service blackout lasting over six months."
The union's demands include ▲ prompt normalization of medical services ▲ eradication of illegal medical practices and clarification of work scope ▲ implementation of a four-day workweek pilot project ▲ resolution of indirect employment issues ▲ and a 6.4% wage increase relative to the total amount.
Earlier, after wage and collective bargaining agreement negotiations broke down, the KHMU submitted a labor dispute mediation request to the Central Labor Relations Commission and local labor commissions on the 13th, initiating a 15-day mediation process. If mediation fails, the union plans to commence a simultaneous strike starting at 7 a.m. on the 29th.
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