Labor takes E.Land fight to new level

With disputes between E.Land management and its union showing few signs of ending, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, an umbrella union group, said yesterday it would launch a nationwide boycott of products from the retail giant.
After police raids on the Sangam branch of Homever discount store and the Gangnam branch of New Core department store last Friday put an end to more than two weeks of sit-ins by union members, the umbrella union has intensified protests against E.Land management.
It held a press conference yesterday announcing it will join civic groups across the nation to wage a boycott of E.Land products and give its full support to unionized workers’ fight with E.Land management over the status of non-regular workers.
During the day, confederation members, along with E.Land protesters, attempted to enter a Homever store in Sangam and a New Core store in Pyeongchon, Gyeonggi. In the process, union members engaged in physical confrontations with some of the shop owners at Homever.
Meanwhile, E.Land management said it proposed separate negotiations with union leaders of New Core and Homever today and tomorrow, respectively. In response, the union suggested sitting at the same negotiation table today. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday it would again seek arrest warrants for 13 E.Land union leaders involved in illegal sit-ins.

By Seo Ji-eun Staff Writer [spring@joongang.co.kr]