World Cup Broadcasting Escapes a Pinch

KBS Labor Union (chairman Park Sang-Jae) had drawn near to a strike, but avoided crippled World Cup broadcasting by reaching an agreement with the management on the 29th, 2 days before the World Cup’s opening.

As a result of the trouble with the management about salary raise and the union size-reduction, KBS Labor Union had taken a survey against members from the 22nd to 24th to decide on a strike, and temporarily scheduled it on the 30th. Consequently, KBS once was on emergency in grasping the replacement manpower related to the World Cup broadcasting.

At first, the union was to announce the strike at 5 p.m. on the 29th during a general meeting, but sought last-minute negotiations to avoid acute criticism, since it was just before the World Cup. It is said that the management had the same burden in the situation.

The negotiations began at 9 p.m. on the 29th with KBS president Park Kwon-Sang, the executives, and chairman Park present, and lasted for 4 hours. They were concluded with agreements on compromising the salary raise. An exceptional fact about the negotiations was that president Park took settlement measures himself. Certain parts of the broadcasting world criticized that “it is a positive thing that the management took active participation in the negotiations, but the union put out unreasonable measures taking hostage of the World Cup”. Even within KBS, some pointed out that “although the strike was cancelled, the decision was immoderate considering that the World Cup is so near”.

“We were preparing for a special program related to the World Cup, but there was so much worry upon hearing about the strike. It’s good that the program is still on schedule,” said one production director.

Soo-Kyung Kim skkim@donga.com