Go to contents

[Editorial] Strikes of Public Sector Threats the Public

Posted May. 22, 2003 22:03,   

한국어

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Unions (KTU) declared that it will stage a strike from May 28. Afterwards, the Korean Government Employees Union (KGEU) started balloting on strike on May 22. Apart from this, the joint trade unions in the public sector that includes five unions are asking for negotiations with the government. This suggests that now public officials are disrupting the society shortly after the strikes by the Korean Cargo Workers Federation. The collective mentality of selfishness is about to threaten the national stabilization.

The labor rights of the public officials cannot be the same as that of ordinary people because they get paid with the taxpayers` money. On the surface, they will negotiate with the government. However, the government exists to serve the public. For this reason, most of countries partly accept the civil servants` labor rights. The KGEU`s balloting on strike to request for the full guarantee of the three labor rights can be seen as a threat to the public in an attempt to obtain what they want.

The joint trade unions of the public sector launched on May 12 demand that the government establish a negotiation body where the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA), the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE), the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, and the Ministry of Planning and Budget with Prime Minister as the leader. This indicates that they are trying to negotiate with the entire government. Their requests cover the increased budget for the social welfare and education, which is directly related to the national management. At a time when the discipline of public officials is lax, the government will have a hard time persuading other trade unions in the private sector.

Some point out that the reform of the public sector is urgent due to weakened competitiveness and inefficiency. The organization of public officials should reflect themselves before they insist on their rights. It is absurd that public officials, whose positions are guaranteed according to the law, are requesting the three labor rights as ordinary people do.

The government should take a stern measure on the collective actions by the civil servants. If they decide to walk out demanding the full labor rights even though the government is heading toward accepting the existence of their trade unions, they will have to pay the price. The participatory government accused of pro-labor unions should make the current situation a turning point to establish a strict labor policy.