Motor Union Stirs Controversy Over Elections

A controversy is growing over the announcement of the Hyundai Motor labor union that it would intervene in the upcoming general elections slated for April 9.

According to the auto industry on Monday, the auto maker’ union released what it called the statement for the victory of April 9 parliamentary elections and declared its intention to support candidates who oppose the Korea-U.S. FTA and advocate the abolition of irregular workers.

“The factional conflicts in the Grand National Party and the internal feud of the United Democratic Party have provided the nation’s unionized workers with a golden opportunity to emerge as a main political force,” said the union in the statement.

It added, “The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) should not force its union members to support the Democratic Labor Party. Rather, it should come up with measures on how to unite and represent the working class as one group.” It also stressed, “The KCTU should reconsider its exclusive support for the DLP in the general elections.”

“The Hyundai Motor union will make every effort to bring victory to candidates who oppose neo-liberalism and the Korea-U.S. FTA and support protection of irregular workers in these upcoming parliamentary elections,” said the motor union.

There are mixed responses in business circles and some part of academia over whether it is appropriate for a labor union of a private firm to engage in the politics. This is because a union is likely to be unilaterally politicized by disregarding its main principle of improving the welfare of the union members.

In particular, experts argue that the motor union backing opponents of the FTA in the elections is likely to have a negative impact upon the welfare of the union, given the union itself will significantly benefit from auto tariff cut and abolition thanks to the FTA.

Kim Jong-seok, president of the Korea Economic Research Institute, said, “The guiding principle of a union is to promote the welfare and social security of the union members. I don’t think supporting a specific political party is related to promoting the workers’ rights.”

In contrast, Bae Sohn-geun, a researcher of the labor institute at Korea University, refuted, “The (motor) union is entitled to support political parties given that it is their rights guaranteed by law.”

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