Three Subsidiaries Demand Wage Increases and Job Security
"Kakao Union's First Strike Holds Symbolic Significance"
Protests to Continue Every Wednesday
Members of three Kakao subsidiaries, including Kakao Mobility, the operator of Kakao Taxi, will go on strike at the end of this month, demanding wage increases and job security. These employees belong to the Kakao labor union "Crew Union," and this will be the first strike at Kakao since the establishment of Crew Union in 2018.
The Kakao Branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union (Crew Union) held a rally on March 19 in front of Kakao Pangyo Ajit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
According to industry sources on June 4, the strike will center on Kakao subsidiaries where wage negotiations and collective bargaining agreements have broken down. Three companies?Kakao Mobility, KM Solution (a subsidiary of Kakao Mobility and an affiliated taxi management company), and Kakao VX (a subsidiary of Kakao Games specializing in golf)?are expected to officially begin industrial action.
Seo Seungwook, head of the Kakao Branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union, stated, "Since this is the first strike since the union was established, it will have symbolic significance," adding, "I expect the strike will take place within this month. Most of the strike schedule has been set, and we are currently discussing it with union members."
The Kakao Branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union (Crew Union) held a press conference on April 17 in front of the Industrial Bank of Korea headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, opposing the private equity sale of Kakao Mobility. Photo by Yonhap News
Additionally, Crew Union plans to hold relay rallies every Wednesday starting as early as June 11. A Crew Union representative said, "We have not reached an agreement with management on issues such as the wage increase rate or restructuring," adding, "We will escalate the level of protest with each rally to restore members' rights and improve their working conditions."
Previously, Crew Union also held rallies in March for similar reasons. Lee Jeongdae, secretary general of the Kakao Branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union, said after the regular shareholders' meeting of Kakao Games held at the Kakao Artificial Intelligence (AI) Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, "We must stop irresponsible restructuring and sales, and establish a structure that guarantees job security."
The Kakao Branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Labor Union (Crew Union) held a rally on March 26 in front of the Kakao Artificial Intelligence (AI) Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi, where the Kakao Games regular shareholders meeting was taking place. Photo by Jeon Youngju
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