irregular workers in korea and the kctu’s action plan to organise 21 th -25 th nov, 2005...

Irregular workers in KoreaIrregular workers in Koreaand the KCTU’s action plan and the KCTU’s action plan

to organiseto organise

2121thth-25-25thth Nov, 2005 Nov, 2005

Mi-Jeoung, KimMi-Jeoung, Kim

From KCTUFrom KCTU

About Korea .. 1About Korea .. 1

• Population ; 43 millionPopulation ; 43 million• 4 Seasons ; +30ºC(summer), -20ºC(winter)4 Seasons ; +30ºC(summer), -20ºC(winter)• Began Industrialization in the 1960sBegan Industrialization in the 1960s• Based on an export-oriented economyBased on an export-oriented economy• Main Industries ; ITs manufacturing, electronics,Main Industries ; ITs manufacturing, electronics,

chemicals, construction..chemicals, construction..• Economic growth rate ; average 5%Economic growth rate ; average 5%• Inflation : 3%Inflation : 3%• Unemployment rate : 3%Unemployment rate : 3%

About Korea .. 2About Korea .. 2

• Military dictatorship ruled for 30 yearsMilitary dictatorship ruled for 30 years• Politically democratised since 1987Politically democratised since 1987

following the people’s great mobilisationfollowing the people’s great mobilisation• Underwent a financial crisis in 1997Underwent a financial crisis in 1997• Afterwards the Government acceleratedAfterwards the Government accelerated

neo-liberal policyneo-liberal policy• Two conservative parties have dominatedTwo conservative parties have dominated

in politics..in politics..• 10 seats for progressive party in parliament10 seats for progressive party in parliament

Trade UnionTrade Union

• 2 National centres ; KCTU & FKTU2 National centres ; KCTU & FKTU

• 6,150 unions in enterprise-level 6,150 unions in enterprise-level

• 45 unions in industrial-level45 unions in industrial-level

• Membership ; 1.5 million Membership ; 1.5 million

• Union density ; 12%Union density ; 12%

• Explosive mobilization since 1987Explosive mobilization since 1987

About KCTUAbout KCTU

• Set up in 1995Set up in 1995

• Membership ; 640,000 in 2001Membership ; 640,000 in 2001– 126,000 women members126,000 women members

• 17 affiliates & 15 regional branches17 affiliates & 15 regional branches

• About 1,800 enterprise-based unionsAbout 1,800 enterprise-based unions

• Represent a militant and autonomous labourRepresent a militant and autonomous labourmovement movement

• One president & GS, Six vice president andOne president & GS, Six vice president andabout 40 staff(at national center level)about 40 staff(at national center level)

Number of irregular workers Number of irregular workers in 2005in 2005 unit : millionunit : million

TotalTotal MaleMale FemaleFemale

WorkersWorkers 14.9714.97 8.688.68 6.296.29

Workers in Workers in regular regular employmentemployment

6.566.56

(44.1%)(44.1%)

4.654.65

(53.5%)(53.5%)

1.921.92

(30.5%)(30.5%)

Workers in Workers in temporary & temporary & daily hire daily hire employmentemployment

8.408.40

(55.9%)(55.9%)

4.034.03

(46.5%)(46.5%)

4.374.37

(69.5%)(69.5%)

Pay comparison within workers Pay comparison within workers in 2005in 2005 unit : %unit : %

MaleMale FemaleFemale


100100 7070


5454 4141

Low paid workers underLow paid workers underminimum wages in 2005minimum wages in 2005unit : millionunit : million

numbernumber

WorkersWorkers 1.731.73


0.09(5.3%)0.09(5.3%)


1.64(94.8%)1.64(94.8%)

KCTU’s outline of action plan to KCTU’s outline of action plan to organise women irregular organise women irregular workersworkers

• KCTU has turned to organise irregular workers to represent interests of KCTU has turned to organise irregular workers to represent interests of majority of workers from financial crisis. majority of workers from financial crisis.

• KCTU determined it’s strategy to organise women, small-sized companKCTU determined it’s strategy to organise women, small-sized company, irregular workers in it’s congress 2003. y, irregular workers in it’s congress 2003.

• In 2005 KCTU is accomplishing as followsIn 2005 KCTU is accomplishing as follows– To concrete strategic organising within 5 sectorsTo concrete strategic organising within 5 sectors– To educate orgnanisers in organising schoolTo educate orgnanisers in organising school– To collect funds to bring up organisers To collect funds to bring up organisers

• In terms of strategic organising within 5 sectorsIn terms of strategic organising within 5 sectors– Workers in service industry, self-employed, In-company subcontracted, puWorkers in service industry, self-employed, In-company subcontracted, pu

blic service, constructionblic service, construction– In cooperative implementation with industrial federation, and KCTU arrangIn cooperative implementation with industrial federation, and KCTU arrang

es organisers to its affiliateses organisers to its affiliates• The first organising target in service area is female irregular workers in The first organising target in service area is female irregular workers in

big wholesale markets and department stores big wholesale markets and department stores

Organising women irregualr workers Organising women irregualr workers in Service sectorin Service sector• Mainly service union, self-employees union, Mainly service union, self-employees union,

cleaning workers in women union, localcleaning workers in women union, localunion are carrying out its organising.union are carrying out its organising.

• Service sectorService sector– Big wholesale markets, department storesBig wholesale markets, department stores

especially in metro cities are the immediate targetespecially in metro cities are the immediate targetto organiseto organise

– The industrial union is the form of new unionThe industrial union is the form of new union– To organise union To organise union

• if there is already regular workers union, there isif there is already regular workers union, there isnecessary to cooperate with the union to expand itsnecessary to cooperate with the union to expand itsscope of memberscope of member

– So, KCTU will send about 10 organisers intoSo, KCTU will send about 10 organisers intotarget companies in Seoul and it’s satellitetarget companies in Seoul and it’s satellitecities to organise. cities to organise.

Organising women irregular workers Organising women irregular workers in Cleaning sectorin Cleaning sector• KCTU is organising cleaning femaleKCTU is organising cleaning female

irregular workers in particular inirregular workers in particular inpublic sector(ex. Seoul underground).public sector(ex. Seoul underground).

• They already have their union whichThey already have their union whichis called women union federationis called women union federationand it’s members are 2,700.and it’s members are 2,700.

• Mostly they are got paid minimumMostly they are got paid minimumwages.wages.

• Cleaning female workers are Cleaning female workers are 260,000(410,000 including male) in 2003.260,000(410,000 including male) in 2003.

• The objective is to establish their local The objective is to establish their local union.union.

ConclusionConclusion

• Irregular workers issue=women workers Irregular workers issue=women workers issue. However, it’s insufficientissue. However, it’s insufficientto concern women workers issuesto concern women workers issueswithin KCTU.within KCTU.

• It should be deliberated organisingIt should be deliberated organisingstrategy for women irregular workers, strategy for women irregular workers, cultivating women organisers andcultivating women organisers andreduction of men oriented organising reduction of men oriented organising culture. culture.

irregular workers in korea and the kctu’s action plan to organise 21 th -25 th nov, 2005...

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