ID :
197850
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 12:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/197850
The shortlink copeid
Make a concerted effort to settle Hanjin Heavy labor dispute
SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- Exactly one month ago, the labor union of the shipbuilding unit for Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. agreed to end a 190-day strike. The goal was to lend momentum for the normalization of the shipbuilder's operations. But the company has been unable to put the agreement into practice, and now the two sides are back at square one. The labor-management dispute over Hanjin Heavy's plan to lay off employees has grown into a political and social debacle.
Unionized employees at Hanjin Heavy, a mid-sized shipyard in the southern port city of Busan, began waging a strike in December over the company's decision to cut about 400 jobs as part of its restructuring drive.
On June 27, the company's labor union decided to end its six-month full-scale strike, but some laid-off workers and supporters refused to give up their protest, saying that they could not accept the settlement unless the company withdrew its decision to cut jobs.
About 1,500 company staff and family members held a rally in Busan Wednesday to make an appeal that the dramatic labor-management agreement is at risk of dissolving due to the intervention of outside forces. Those assembled asked the labor union and management to resolve the problem.
Around the same time in Seoul, a group of activists declared in a press conference that they would stage their own protest. The police plan to obstruct their rally slated for Saturday. Meanwhile, a conservative group in Busan also declared they would block the movement. So there is a possibility that the two groups could collide.
After six months of extreme confrontation, it would be natural to consider the concerned parties' resolution of the labor-management dispute themselves as significant progress.
The situation, however, has become aggravated, and the two sides are unable to uphold the agreement for various reasons. Thus, the relevant parties need to put forth special effort to find a solution to the dispute.
In order to settle the dispute peacefully, both the organizers of the activist movement and the police should exercise strong self-control to prevent physical confrontations. Hanjin's labor and management must return to the negotiating table.
Hanjin's management reportedly expressed its intent to re-employ laid-off employees after the company's operations normalize. We hope the management suggests a more concrete blueprint for re-employment, which would lead to a compromise with the union.
The government should also take responsibility and make a positive effort to mediate between the two sides.
Hanjin Heavy chairman Cho Nam-ho has received much flak for staying overseas for 40 days, which critics say is a ploy to avoid a parliamentary hearing on the issue. As the top official of such an embattled company, Cho should feel a deep sense of responsibility for such pervasive national woes.
Unionized employees at Hanjin Heavy, a mid-sized shipyard in the southern port city of Busan, began waging a strike in December over the company's decision to cut about 400 jobs as part of its restructuring drive.
On June 27, the company's labor union decided to end its six-month full-scale strike, but some laid-off workers and supporters refused to give up their protest, saying that they could not accept the settlement unless the company withdrew its decision to cut jobs.
About 1,500 company staff and family members held a rally in Busan Wednesday to make an appeal that the dramatic labor-management agreement is at risk of dissolving due to the intervention of outside forces. Those assembled asked the labor union and management to resolve the problem.
Around the same time in Seoul, a group of activists declared in a press conference that they would stage their own protest. The police plan to obstruct their rally slated for Saturday. Meanwhile, a conservative group in Busan also declared they would block the movement. So there is a possibility that the two groups could collide.
After six months of extreme confrontation, it would be natural to consider the concerned parties' resolution of the labor-management dispute themselves as significant progress.
The situation, however, has become aggravated, and the two sides are unable to uphold the agreement for various reasons. Thus, the relevant parties need to put forth special effort to find a solution to the dispute.
In order to settle the dispute peacefully, both the organizers of the activist movement and the police should exercise strong self-control to prevent physical confrontations. Hanjin's labor and management must return to the negotiating table.
Hanjin's management reportedly expressed its intent to re-employ laid-off employees after the company's operations normalize. We hope the management suggests a more concrete blueprint for re-employment, which would lead to a compromise with the union.
The government should also take responsibility and make a positive effort to mediate between the two sides.
Hanjin Heavy chairman Cho Nam-ho has received much flak for staying overseas for 40 days, which critics say is a ploy to avoid a parliamentary hearing on the issue. As the top official of such an embattled company, Cho should feel a deep sense of responsibility for such pervasive national woes.
