This month, in his graduation speech at Yonsei University, President Yoon Suk-yeol said, "Innovation is achieved when we break with vested interests and create a freer and fairer system together." Looking at the Yoon administration's directions and policies, one would think it protected the "vested interests". Perhaps, it has more to do with how Yoon understands "vested interests rights."
First, it seems that to the Yoon Administration vested interests is simply a code word for smashing workers and labor unions. Last year, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's subcontract workers went on strike for 51 days to demand a return to their wages, down 31% from 2014. While the strike ended with a negotiated 4.5% wage increase set by the company, the Yoon administration called the strike illegal from the beginning and threatened to exercise its public authority. After the strike ended, Daewoo Shipbuilding claimed 47 billion won in damages from its workers.
In addition, cargo truckers union began a strike, demanding that the government continue to implement the safe freight system - a system that determines and announces the minimum fare required to prevent overwork, speeding, and overloading and protects traffic safety- and expand the applicable items. When the government agreed to discuss their demands, the workers returned to work. Yet, the discussion had still not started 5 months later, forcing the cargo truckers union to announce going on strike. The discussions finally began only to be derailed when the government stated that "if the safe freight system expands, there is concern about the expanding power of the unionized cargo truckers." When they went on strike, the government compared the strike to a "North Korean nuclear threat" calling it a "national threat."
The Yoon administration propagates images of greedy and corrupt unions by declaring that "vested" trade unions are committing illegal activities. Recently, the government demanded trade unions submit their accounting data, saying that the unions need to transparently disclose how they spent the 3.5 billion won in last year’s state subsidies. The problem, however, is that access to these accounting documents will also allow the government to determine who is part of the union. These actions have a weak legal basis and counters international norms such as the International Labor Organization (ILO). Worse, no such demand is made of organizations such as the Korea Employers Federation or the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry that received 20 times more government subsidies (70 billion won). In addition, the president's office has stated that even if it was passed in the National Assembly, it would veto the “Yellow Envelope Act” (which amended Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), which guarantees workers' right to unionize, holds the president of a company responsible for wrongdoing or industrial accidents, and limits suits brought for damage against striking workers.
Given his treatment of workers, how does the Yoon administration respond to the illegal actions of corporations, the real "vested interests”. Last year, the heads of the major chaebol (conglomerates), including Samsung and Lotte, were released from prison by presidential pardon on Independence Day, thus reaffirming the common belief that "the chaebols stand above the law.” In addition, at the end of last year, the government and ruling party pushed a 1% cut on corporate taxes. Furthermore, the Yoon administration is revising the Serious Disaster Punishment Act, which went into effect last year, towards replacing the criminal punishment clause for managers with administrative sanctions such as fines. In fact, the Yoon administration protects and supports the "real vested rights" while framing workers as "vested interests.”
In response, industrial trade unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions declared a general strike this May and July. This will be an important moment to break the framework of the Yoon administration's "vest interest” union and create counter-discourses to create support from below. Just as eight French trade union groups went on strike in Jan. against Macron's pension reforms raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 both in large cities and the regions, it is important to gain support not only from workers but also from ordinary citizens and students. We need to reveal who the actual vested interests are and who benefits from spreading hatred of trade unions and strikes. The International Strategy Center will also join in the fight against the real vested interests. |
