Sweltering heat fails to deter E.Land labor protest

After E.Land management banned union members from holding sit-ins at two stores, the umbrella labor group Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is coming out strong and holding rallies nationwide, even throwing dung and blocking operations in several locations.
On Saturday afternoon in front of Seoul Station, about 2,000 union members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions camped out on the sizzling asphalt. The heat rose above 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and humidity soared as union members wrapped towels around their faces to block the sun and gulped water. Some 1,000 riot police surrounded them, sweating in their dark uniforms.
This rally was one of the latest in the continuing struggle between E.Land and various unions. The struggle was triggered by the company’s refusal to renew contracts for irregular workers just one day before a new labor law protecting them went into effect. The new law requires companies to convert irregular workers with more than two years of experience to regular worker status.
Union leaders are demanding that the laid-off workers be rehired as regular workers. The strife has carried on for almost two months, expanding to include not only the dismissed workers, but also current employees of E.Land and members of the umbrella labor group.
After an hour at Seoul Station, the crowd broke up, heading to the World Cup Stadium branch of Homever and the Gangnam branch of New Core department store. They blocked the entrance from customers, causing disruptions in the stores’ business until 10 p.m.
In other provinces, demonstrators flung manure inside the Suncheon branch of Homever in South Jeolla and broke the glass entrances in Changwon, South Gyeongsang.
On Friday, workers at the Homever store in Mokdong nagged police to remove the demonstrators blocking the front door.
“We wish police would be more aggressive about dealing with the demonstrators,” one Homever official said. One employee suggested that it was not even fired employees who were protesting.
One high official at the Seoul District Police Agency said there was little they could do. “Unless they take over a store by force or become violent, we cannot define them as illegal demonstrators and take them away.”
Meanwhile, demonstrators are facing complaints and opposition from people who received outsourced work from E.Land or are owners of shops within the department stores. Like many Korean retail companies, E.Land owns the discount chain Homever and New Core department store, but sublets smaller brand shops inside. Jeong Young-ki, who runs a clothing store in the Mokdong branch of Homever, said that the store had to be closed for four days this month, ruining business. Outraged sublet store owners hurled eggs and shot water cannons at campers outside in an effort to send them home.
As the conflict continues, people are wondering whether the demonstrators are actual laid-off employees or just members of the umbrella labor group.

By Lim Mi-jin JoongAng Ilbo/ Wohn Dong-hee Staff Writer [wohn@joongang.co.kr]