GM Korea Union Advised to Negotiate in Good Faith
The Central Labor Relations Committee has put the brakes on a strike plan promoted by the Korea GM Labor Union.
The committee made an administrative decision on an application for a labor dispute settlement filed by the GM Korea Branch of the National Metal Workers' Union in Korea on June 24. It told the union to find a way to break through the deadlock in its negotiations with the management that stemmed from a disagreement over the venue of negotiations. It also advised the union to negotiate in good faith as soon as possible by finding a new venue inside or outside the company.
Earlier, the labor union tried to start negotiations on wage and collective bargaining with the management on May 30, but failed six times as the management did not show up due to a disagreement over the venue of negotiations. The labor union submitted an arbitration application to the Central Labor Relations Committee on June 13 to secure the right to go on strike. The management insists that the negotiations be held at the main building instead of the Welfare Hall at Bupyeong Factory for safety reasons, but the labor union is refusing to change the place. About 75 percent of the unionists voted for a walkout in a ballot held for two days from June 19.
However, the labor union failed to obtain a legal right to go on strike due to the Central Labor Relations Committee’s decision to provide administrative guidance on the matter. In the first place, the labor union was planning to start a walkout with permit from the committee when the committee decides to put a halt to arbitration.
The labor union is expected to negotiate with the management by changing the venue in accordance with the committee’s administrative guidance.