KMWU strike over subcontracted workers’ bargaining rights

The strike follows a landmark amendment to Korea’s Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act. For the first time. the Act allows subcontracted workers to bargain collectively with the principal employers who actually control their pay and conditions, rather than only with the smaller subcontracting firms that formally employ them. Since the amendment came into force, KMWU has put forward collective bargaining proposals across the metal sector. But many multinational companies have simply refused to come to the table, despite the change in the law.

For KMWU members, that refusal is the point of the strike. Subcontracted workers earn just 65.2 per cent of the wage of directly employed workers, according to a survey by Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour. And the gap is widening: wages for regular workers grew 15.3 per cent, against only 6 per cent for non-regular workers. Union members say multinational companies are refusing to share the profits that subcontracted workers helped generate.

KMWU is striking for:

• good faith bargaining from principal employers
• revitalization of industry-wide bargaining, employment and human rights protections as AI is introduced into workplaces
• a metal industry minimum wage of 2,608,040 won (US$1,716) per month
• a flat base wage increase of 149,600 won (US$98) per month

“The international labour movement hears the voice of the Korean subcontracted workers,”

says Atle Høie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

“The right to collective bargaining is a fundamental right and has to be respected as such. We are committed to supporting our brothers and sisters in the fight for their collective bargaining rights and decent living wages. We will bring the struggle against precarious work in Korea to the attention of worldwide workers.”