Governor Dongyeon Kim Holds Preliminary Meeting for Collective Bargaining with Three Provincial Government Employee Unions

Dongyeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, held a preliminary meeting to commence collective bargaining with three civil servant labor unions at Yulgok Hall in Gyeonggi Provincial Government in Suwon on September 5.

During the meeting, Governor Kim expressed his gratitude, saying, "I sincerely thank not only the union executives but also all employees for their tremendous efforts," and added, "It has been just over three years since I took office, and the more I work with you, the more I am moved and grateful for your diligence, sincerity, and hard work."

He continued, "When there were flood damages in Gapyeong and Pocheon, we worked together to restore the areas, and I could truly feel these qualities. I believe that the residents of Gyeonggi Province have deep trust and confidence in the provincial government employees."

He also stated, "I am very pleased that the three unions have come together to create a unified bargaining proposal. Since it is a single proposal, I believe it reflects the collective will of all our employees. Therefore, rather than taking a bureaucratic approach, I promise to actively review the unified bargaining proposal."

Furthermore, he added, "I believe that our employees must find joy and fulfillment in their daily work in order to provide good policies and administration to the residents. I truly hope that everyone can work with happiness and enjoyment."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dongyeon Kim is taking a commemorative photo after having a preliminary meeting for collective bargaining with three labor unions within the provincial office on the 5th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

In response, Soonha Kang, Chairperson of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Employees’ Labor Union, said, "This collective bargaining proposal includes fair personnel and organizational management, improvement of the working environment and establishment of welfare spaces at the new government building, expanded support for employees with fewer years of service, and improved treatment related to the union’s exemption from work hours. I believe today’s meeting is a very important first step in realizing the values of a cooperative labor-management relationship based on mutual respect and trust."

The preliminary meeting was held in preparation for the seventh round of full-scale collective bargaining, with representatives from both labor and management in attendance. The session included introductions of the bargaining committee members, explanations from the union side regarding their demands, and a statement of the provincial government’s position.

The collective bargaining proposal covers 13 areas, including union activities, gender equality, and human rights protection. Among these, provisions related to organizational personnel, working conditions, and welfare account for 55%.

Gyeonggi Province has stated that it will approach these negotiations with utmost sincerity and good faith, within the limits allowed by laws and budget constraints.

Going forward, both sides plan to proceed as quickly as possible with working-level negotiations on unresolved issues, aiming to conclude the collective agreement in the near future.

Meanwhile, there are three labor unions at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government: the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Employees’ Labor Union (established in 2006, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Government Employees’ Unions), the Gyeonggi Provincial Branch of the Korean Government Employees’ Union (established in 2018), and the Gyeonggi Integrated Government Employees’ Union (established in 2017, affiliated with the Government Employees’ Union Federation).