Hotline workers get raise, bonuses

Unionized workers at the 120 Dasan Call Center, Seoul’s 24-hour help hotline, ended a strike for higher paychecks and better working conditions yesterday after reaching an agreement with their contractors on some sticky points. But they were not taken on as salaried employees as they had wished.

The agreement came after around 150 out of 492 workers staged a onehour strike Aug. 26. The two sides agreed to increase the basic monthly salary by 3 percent, or 29,700 won, with a special bonus of 50,000 won ($45.20) for Chuseok and Lunar New Year’s holidays.

Call center members are currently employed by three subcontracting companies: MPC, KTCS and Hyosung ITX. The city said that it was premature to decide on full employment for the workers, saying that the decision could affect other contract workers. The agreement also ensured the right of the workers to partake in union activities without interference.

The city government also considered putting some limits on the scope of enquiries fielded by the hotline workers to cut down on their workload. Up until now, the call center has fielded questions on every aspect of life in Seoul from locations of restaurants and beauty parlors to traffic conditions and city affairs.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [ejpark@joongang.co.kr]