Constitutional Court upholds barring firefighters from union

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The Constitutional Court upheld a law on Monday that
bars firefighters from joining or creating a labor union.

The top court rejected a petition filed by a fireman, who claimed that the law
infringes on his labor rights and right to equality. Seven judges upheld the law
with two dissenting.
The law stipulates which public officials who are allowed to form or join a
union, but bans certain civil servants with duties related to public safety and
disaster management. The Korean government permitted the establishment of unions
in the public sector in 2006.
"If firefighters are allowed to fully enjoy their labor rights, the societal
ramifications would be huge," the court said in its ruling.
About 100,000 government officials are affiliated with two major unions, the
Korean Government Employees' Union and the Korea Democracy Government Employees'
Union.
brk@yna.co.kr
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