The Kakao community union announced its first strike since its establishment as negotiations over working conditions with Kakao Mobility and Kakao VX failed.
The Korea Chemical Fiber and Food Industry Workers Union (the Kakao chapter of the Food Industry Union) stated on the 10th that it will begin a phased strike due to the breakdown of negotiations with Kakao Mobility.
The Kakao union reported that it plans to begin a two-hour partial strike on the 11th, followed by a four-hour partial strike and a large rally on the 18th, and a full strike on the 25th.
The Kakao union explained that both sides have been negotiating over working conditions for Kakao Mobility and Kakao VX since the beginning of the year, but all negotiations have failed, leading to the decision to strike. Although negotiations with Kakao VX also failed, the union noted that it has not yet entered the labor commission mediation process.
The Kakao union asserted, “The growth of Kakao Mobility was made possible by the dedication and efforts of the crew,” and added, “The management presented unilateral and low compensation proposals despite high performance, ignoring the legitimate rights and achievements of the workers.”
The Kakao union stated that the Food Industry Union will also participate in the strike.
The Kakao union plans to align with the Naver union. The Naver union is opposing the recent return of Choi In-hyuk, former Chief Operating Officer (COO), who stepped down over a case in 2021 where an employee died by suicide due to workplace harassment.
The Kakao union plans to participate in the Naver union's second rally, taking place at the Naver 1784 building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th.
Seongwook Seo, head of the Kakao chapter of the crew union, said, “The first strike of the Kakao union is a first step towards creating a Kakao community where all crew are respected and fair compensation is realized,” and added, “We will fight until the end to protect the rights and value of labor for all crew and for the Kakao community we wish to work with.”
Earlier, Kakao faced deepening labor-management conflicts amid rumors of selling core subsidiaries. As Kakao began to spin off its portal Daum, the union expressed concerns about job insecurity among employees and opposed the selling rumors, particularly citing 'the infringement of the public's right to mobility' when rumors of selling Kakao Mobility to a private equity fund emerged in April.