Teachers Union Declines by 9,200 Members

The number of members in the Korean Teachers and Education Workers` Union (KTU) fell by more than 9,000 in 2007 to 77,700, the biggest drop since the union became officially recognized in 1999.

The latest figure is based on December 2007 figures and was publicized by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development and the National Assembly on Jan. 8. KTU presented a report to education authorities which included a list of union members. 0.8 percent of members’ monthly salaries are automatically withheld as mandatory union fees.

“The number of KTU members is strictly confidential and so we cannot disclose it to public,” said a KTU official. “However, given that some members pay membership fees separately, there are more union members than actually reported.”

The teachers’ union started with 55,666 members when it was legalized in 1999. By 2003, their ranks swelled to 93,860. Some believed that the number would break the 10,000-mark. However, since 2003, membership has dwindled each year, falling to 91,243 in 2004, 90,857 in 2005 and 86,918 in 2006.

Experts attribute the decrease to teachers’ frustration with the union’s hard-core combativeness over political issues irreverent to their welfare.

Sensing a crisis in the face of rapidly declining membership, KTU recently launch a reform committee to study ways to restructure the union.

foryou@donga.com