Gwangju KCTU Urges Gwangju City to Take Action on Union Office Relocation

Proposal for an Open Debate on Gwangju-style Labor-Management-Government Relations

The Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference on the 26th at the Citizens Communication Office of the Gwangju City Council, demanding "to allow the Gwangju Headquarters of the KCTU to move into the Hanam Workers' Comprehensive Welfare Center." Photo by the Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has urged the city of Gwangju to actively cooperate in resolving the issue of relocating its office and has proposed a public debate.

On the 26th, the Gwangju branch of the KCTU held a press conference at the Gwangju City Council's Citizen Communication Room, stating, "The relocation of the KCTU Gwangju branch office is at risk of being canceled due to the opposition from the Hanam Industrial Complex Management Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Corporation), which is entrusted with the operation of the Hanam Workers' Welfare Center, and the passive administration of the city of Gwangju." "The city of Gwangju must step forward to resolve this issue," they said.

They continued, "With the current office lease set to expire on January 25 next year, we have been in practical discussions with the city of Gwangju regarding the office relocation since last July," adding, "However, with only about a month left until the lease expires, no solution has been prepared."

They further stated, "The Corporation is opposing the relocation, citing the position of some companies that 'if the KCTU moves in, there will be an increase in KCTU membership, which will be a headache for companies,'" and "The Corporation's opposition lacks justification and is anachronistic, so we expected the city of Gwangju to resolve the issue quickly. However, the city's administration has not only disappointed us by hiding behind the scenes and wasting time, but has also turned our disappointment into anger."

Additionally, they said, "In the case of the Hanam Workers' Welfare Center, the Corporation, which is an employers' organization, has had exclusive management rights since its opening in 2009," and added, "We propose a public debate to Kang Gijung, the mayor of Gwangju, as well as officials from the Corporation, on the issue of the KCTU Gwangju branch office, the management of the Workers' Welfare Center, and what the proper labor-management-government relationship and roles should be in Gwangju.".