Unionized Teachers Mounting Struggle Against Gov't
Union teachers are stepping up their struggle against the government in a bid to have more of a say in the decision-making process in education, more freedom in their union activities and higher wage hikes.
Source : Korea Times
Union teachers are stepping up their struggle against the government in a bid to have more of a say in the decision-making process in education, more freedom in their union activities and higher wage hikes.
Lee Pu-young, head of the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers' Union (KTU), went into the 12th day of a hunger strike Sunday on the street behind the Government Complex in downtown Seoul.
He launched the struggle on May 24 as tense negotiations with the Ministry of Education broke down, accusing the government of refusing to accept teachers' demands.
Ten representatives of the KTU's regional chapters in major cities and provinces joined Lee Thursday to turn up the pressure on the government. The union has about 70,000 members.
Unionized teachers are calling for a 15.2 percent wage hike and a guarantee for their freer participation in union activities.
The pay raise target was set by an umbrella labor group, the hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which launched a general strike Wednesday with some 35,000 metal workers and nurses now taking part in the walkout.
The teachers' union, better known as ``chonkyojo,'' is also urging the ministry to allow its member workers in each school to engage in union activities during school hours.
``It is almost impossible for teachers to get involved in union activities because the government banned them from doing so during working hours in July last year,'' said Hwang Ho-young, director of the KTU's publicity department.
He believes that teaching will not be hampered by participation in union programs at schools.
The most thorny issue is the formation of a joint committee on educational policy consultation that teachers have requested to take part in the policy decision-making process.
``There is no institutional framework for teachers to discuss educational policies with policymakers. Teachers' unions are only allowed to touch on wages, working conditions and welfare issues,'' Hwang said.
He stressed that the joint consultation would help improve the deteriorating education environment.
Another moderate and smaller teacher trade union is also seeking to escalate their fight for similar purposes.
The Korean Union of Teaching and Educational Workers (KUTW), or hankyojo, has decided to stage a sit-in protest by its representatives on June 7.
``We will mobilize every possible means to achieve the formation of a joint consultative committee to raise their voice in decision-making process,'' said Woo Hee-dae, director of KUTW's planning department.
He said the KUTW would join hands with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) to press ahead with its struggle for more rights of teachers. The KUTW has 30,000 members nationwide.
The government now recognizes the fraternity organization called the Korean Federation of Teachers' Association (KFTA), or kyochong, as the sole counterpart to discuss policy issues.
A ministry official said it is not appropriate for labor unions to raise education policy issues because such an action will hamper the decision-making process.
The government has also rejected the proposed double-digit wage hike, citing lack of budget.
The official said union teachers could not be allowed union activities during school hours for fear of possible hindrance to students' learning.
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