Union Leader of KRA Was Involved in Black List

The union leader of Korea Racing Association was deeply involved in the process of lay-off and discussed with the chairperson of KRA about the personnel management and the targets of lay-off.

Ms. Kim Hyung-Ah (32), a former secretary of the chairperson, disclosed such documents to the Donga. Oh Young-Woo, then chairperson of KRA, admitted that he discussed with the union leader about the objects and standards of lay-off.

Ms. Kim H.A. said that she eye-witnessed that Shin Il-Soo (42), then union leader, was discussing with Lee Eun-Ho (43, then secretary), director of Seong-dong branch, about the lay-off and the human resource management over 10 times.

She added that “since then chairperson Shin newly appointed in April 1998 and his chief secretary did not know well about the employees, director Lee mostly took part of the preparation of the document based on the materials from the personnel affairs section. Other staffs and executives were involved in the discussion.”

Particularly, former chairperson Shin presented a false document at the trial raised brought by the dismissed employees for the charge of illegal dismissals.

According to the decision of the National Constitutional Court on December 5th, Mr. Shin made a false testimony to the Kyonggi Labor Council that KRA reached an agreement with the union on the criteria for the lay off.

A related source from KRA said, “since Mr. Shin had to insinuate himself into the favor of unionists, he might have permitted tacitly the dismissal of non-unionist executives.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Shin said, “I did not make a list by myself. I was concerning so much about the union members under the 3rd grade, I might have been negligent of higher grade employees relatively.” Lee Eun-Ho, then director of the secretary office who is alleged as the writer of the document, is on leave since 20th and his cellular phone is disconnected.

Hoon Lee dreamland@donga.com · sys1201@donga.com