Irregular workers in Korea and the KCTU’s action plan to organise 21 th -25 th Nov, 2005 Mi-Jeoung, Kim From KCTU

About Korea.. 1 Population ; 43 million Population ; 43 million 4 Seasons ; +30ºC(summer), -20ºC(winter) 4 Seasons ; +30ºC(summer), -20ºC(winter) Began Industrialization in the 1960s Began Industrialization in the 1960s Based on an export-oriented economy Based on an export-oriented economy Main Industries ; ITs manufacturing, electronics, chemicals, construction.. Main Industries ; ITs manufacturing, electronics, chemicals, construction.. Economic growth rate ; average 5% Economic growth rate ; average 5% Inflation : 3% Inflation : 3% Unemployment rate : 3% Unemployment rate : 3%

About Korea.. 2 Military dictatorship ruled for 30 years Military dictatorship ruled for 30 years Politically democratised since 1987 following the people’s great mobilisation Politically democratised since 1987 following the people’s great mobilisation Underwent a financial crisis in 1997 Underwent a financial crisis in 1997 Afterwards the Government accelerated neo-liberal policy Afterwards the Government accelerated neo-liberal policy Two conservative parties have dominated in politics.. Two conservative parties have dominated in politics.. 10 seats for progressive party in parliament 10 seats for progressive party in parliament

Trade Union 2 National centres ; KCTU & FKTU 2 National centres ; KCTU & FKTU 6,150 unions in enterprise-level 6,150 unions in enterprise-level 45 unions in industrial-level 45 unions in industrial-level Membership ; 1.5 million Membership ; 1.5 million Union density ; 12% Union density ; 12% Explosive mobilization since 1987 Explosive mobilization since 1987

About KCTU Set up in 1995 Set up in 1995 Membership ; 640,000 in 2001 Membership ; 640,000 in 2001 – 126,000 women members 17 affiliates & 15 regional branches 17 affiliates & 15 regional branches About 1,800 enterprise-based unions About 1,800 enterprise-based unions Represent a militant and autonomous labour movement Represent a militant and autonomous labour movement One president & GS, Six vice president and about 40 staff(at national center level) One president & GS, Six vice president and about 40 staff(at national center level)

Number of irregular workers in 2005 unit : million TotalMaleFemale Workers Workers in regular employment 6.56(44.1%)4.65(53.5%)1.92(30.5%) Workers in temporary & daily hire employment 8.40(55.9%)4.03(46.5%)4.37(69.5%)

Pay comparison within workers in 2005 unit : % MaleFemale Workers in regular employment Workers in temporary & daily hire employment 5441

Low paid workers under minimum wages in 2005 unit : million number Workers 1.73 Workers in regular employment 0.09(5.3%) Workers in temporary & daily hire employment 1.64(94.8%)

KCTU’s outline of action plan to organise women irregular workers KCTU has turned to organise irregular workers to represent interests of majority of workers from financial crisis. KCTU has turned to organise irregular workers to represent interests of majority of workers from financial crisis. KCTU determined it’s strategy to organise women, small-sized company, irregular workers in it’s congress KCTU determined it’s strategy to organise women, small-sized company, irregular workers in it’s congress In 2005 KCTU is accomplishing as follows In 2005 KCTU is accomplishing as follows – To concrete strategic organising within 5 sectors – To educate orgnanisers in organising school – To collect funds to bring up organisers In terms of strategic organising within 5 sectors In terms of strategic organising within 5 sectors – Workers in service industry, self-employed, In-company subcontracted, public service, construction – In cooperative implementation with industrial federation, and KCTU arranges organisers to its affiliates The first organising target in service area is female irregular workers in big wholesale markets and department stores The first organising target in service area is female irregular workers in big wholesale markets and department stores

Organising women irregualr workers in Service sector Mainly service union, self-employees union, cleaning workers in women union, local union are carrying out its organising. Mainly service union, self-employees union, cleaning workers in women union, local union are carrying out its organising. Service sector Service sector – Big wholesale markets, department stores especially in metro cities are the immediate target to organise – The industrial union is the form of new union – To organise union if there is already regular workers union, there is necessary to cooperate with the union to expand its scope of member if there is already regular workers union, there is necessary to cooperate with the union to expand its scope of member – So, KCTU will send about 10 organisers into target companies in Seoul and it’s satellite cities to organise.

Organising women irregular workers in Cleaning sector KCTU is organising cleaning female irregular workers in particular in public sector(ex. Seoul underground). KCTU is organising cleaning female irregular workers in particular in public sector(ex. Seoul underground). They already have their union which is called women union federation and it’s members are 2,700. They already have their union which is called women union federation and it’s members are 2,700. Mostly they are got paid minimum wages. Mostly they are got paid minimum wages. Cleaning female workers are 260,000(410,000 including male) in Cleaning female workers are 260,000(410,000 including male) in The objective is to establish their local union. The objective is to establish their local union.

Conclusion Irregular workers issue=women workers issue. However, it’s insufficient to concern women workers issues within KCTU. Irregular workers issue=women workers issue. However, it’s insufficient to concern women workers issues within KCTU. It should be deliberated organising strategy for women irregular workers, cultivating women organisers and reduction of men oriented organising culture. It should be deliberated organising strategy for women irregular workers, cultivating women organisers and reduction of men oriented organising culture.