Ceremony ban imposed on civil servants’ union
Published: 24 Oct. 2009, 00:57
Tension is escalating between the union for civil servants and the government after the Ministry of Public Administration and Security yesterday banned them from conducting certain ceremonies at the beginning of their official events.
They traditionally sing labor union songs and pay silent tribute to labor activists. This is often referred to as the “people’s” ceremony.
Other institutions would normally sing the national anthem and honor the Korean flag and patriots who sacrificed their lives for independence.
Kim Jin-su, an official at the ministry, said the ceremonies violate the national civil servant law and damage civil servants’ dignity.
“When they sing labor songs with their fists clenched, they antagonize the government and the country,” Kim said. “Civil servants work for the people and they should not deny the national flag or the national anthem.”
Lee Sang-won, a spokesman for the Korean Government Employees’ Union, blasted the government’s decision, accusing it of “suppressing the freedom of the labor union.”
“We have never rejected the national ceremony in government-hosted events,” Lee said. “The purpose of the people’s ceremony is to show respect and follow the spirit of senior labor activists, and this can only be witnessed in labor union events. We feel that by taking issue with the union’s ceremony, the government is treating us like children. We will continue holding the people’s ceremony.”
After Korea’s three labor unions for civil servants voted in support of consolidation and joining the umbrella labor union the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the end of September, government officials including Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam and Public Administration Minister Lee Dal-gon sternly warned that civil servants would be subject to legal punishment if they engage in any political protests with the KCTU.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s disciplinary committee dismissed Son Yeong-tae, head of the Korean Government Employees’ Union and a civil servant at the Dongan District Office in Anyang, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday, for leading an anti-government rally in July.
The Labor Ministry booked Son without physical detention on a separate charge of not following the ministry’s request to rectify collective agreements of the Jeonju City Hall bureau in North Jeolla and Muan District Office in South Jeolla.
Earlier this week, the Labor Ministry announced it won’t recognize the Korean Government Employees’ Union as a labor union and now regards it as an illegal labor union.
The ministry discovered that some civil servants who had been fired were still members of the KGEU and the ministry requested that their membership be terminated.
The ministry’s ultimatum was made after some civil servants continued to work as senior labor union members, even after they had submitted letters stating they had quit the union.
Loss of its status as a legal entity means the KGEU will no longer have the right of collective bargaining.
Just a day after the Labor Ministry’s announcement, the Public Administration Ministry asked 34 full-time KGEU members currently on leave from their union jobs to return to work since the union is no longer legitimate. A Public Administration Ministry official who asked not to be named said the ministry on Wednesday sent out a notice to union members at public agencies and national universities to get back to work because their reason for taking leave was “invalid.”
If the notified civil servants refuse to follow the ministry’s order, they will face disciplinary action for violating the Public Service Regulations next week, the ministry official added.
By Kim Gyeong-jin, Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
They traditionally sing labor union songs and pay silent tribute to labor activists. This is often referred to as the “people’s” ceremony.
Other institutions would normally sing the national anthem and honor the Korean flag and patriots who sacrificed their lives for independence.
Kim Jin-su, an official at the ministry, said the ceremonies violate the national civil servant law and damage civil servants’ dignity.
“When they sing labor songs with their fists clenched, they antagonize the government and the country,” Kim said. “Civil servants work for the people and they should not deny the national flag or the national anthem.”
Lee Sang-won, a spokesman for the Korean Government Employees’ Union, blasted the government’s decision, accusing it of “suppressing the freedom of the labor union.”
“We have never rejected the national ceremony in government-hosted events,” Lee said. “The purpose of the people’s ceremony is to show respect and follow the spirit of senior labor activists, and this can only be witnessed in labor union events. We feel that by taking issue with the union’s ceremony, the government is treating us like children. We will continue holding the people’s ceremony.”
After Korea’s three labor unions for civil servants voted in support of consolidation and joining the umbrella labor union the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the end of September, government officials including Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam and Public Administration Minister Lee Dal-gon sternly warned that civil servants would be subject to legal punishment if they engage in any political protests with the KCTU.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s disciplinary committee dismissed Son Yeong-tae, head of the Korean Government Employees’ Union and a civil servant at the Dongan District Office in Anyang, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday, for leading an anti-government rally in July.
The Labor Ministry booked Son without physical detention on a separate charge of not following the ministry’s request to rectify collective agreements of the Jeonju City Hall bureau in North Jeolla and Muan District Office in South Jeolla.
Earlier this week, the Labor Ministry announced it won’t recognize the Korean Government Employees’ Union as a labor union and now regards it as an illegal labor union.
The ministry discovered that some civil servants who had been fired were still members of the KGEU and the ministry requested that their membership be terminated.
The ministry’s ultimatum was made after some civil servants continued to work as senior labor union members, even after they had submitted letters stating they had quit the union.
Loss of its status as a legal entity means the KGEU will no longer have the right of collective bargaining.
Just a day after the Labor Ministry’s announcement, the Public Administration Ministry asked 34 full-time KGEU members currently on leave from their union jobs to return to work since the union is no longer legitimate. A Public Administration Ministry official who asked not to be named said the ministry on Wednesday sent out a notice to union members at public agencies and national universities to get back to work because their reason for taking leave was “invalid.”
If the notified civil servants refuse to follow the ministry’s order, they will face disciplinary action for violating the Public Service Regulations next week, the ministry official added.
By Kim Gyeong-jin, Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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