The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a rally in front of the National Assembly on the 11th, with a large participation of officials, demanding the enactment of the 'yellow envelope law' (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act). This was a demonstration of strength, putting pressure on the National Assembly and the government just a week after the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
The KCTU held the '10,000 officials resolution conference' at 2 p.m. in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. However, the police unofficially estimated that 5,500 people participated in this rally. Prior to this, some union members held rallies in front of the Automobile Center and the Seoul Employment and Labor Agency in Seocho-gu, Seoul, before moving to Yeouido. The union members gathered at the Saetgang Station on Subway Line 9 and started marching, converging in front of the National Assembly after passing the LG Twin Towers.
The KCTU stated that this resolution conference was organized to urge the new government for a comprehensive revision of the Trade Union Act, protection of supply chains and jobs, and negotiation with the government. Chairperson Jang Chang-yeol noted, "The revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act that Yoon Suk-yeol rejected and rejected again must be made immediately," adding, "Some might say it is too hasty as it has been less than ten days since the presidential election concluded, but it is a completely justified demand."
Lee Byeong-rak, chairperson of the Modern Heavy Industries subcontracting union, said, "The amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act is urgent to ensure that non-regular subcontract workers can secure their right to organize," and urged, "President Lee Jae-myung must revise it immediately." Ahn Gyu-baek, head of the Korean General Motors branch, remarked, "Korean General Motors stated it would not operate nine directly managed maintenance centers under the pretext of tariff responses," calling it "a declaration of war against the union and the government."
The Democratic Party of Korea has forcibly processed the amendments to the Trade Union Act twice during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and former President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed them all. The Democratic Party and minor opposition lawmakers reintroduced the amendment to the Trade Union Act last March, and President Lee Jae-myung pledged to revisit this bill during the presidential campaign.
The reintroduced amendments to the Trade Union Act stipulate that even if labor unions cause damage through illegal strikes, the claims for damages against corporations will be restricted. It also requires primary contractors to respond to negotiating demands from workers in subcontracting companies. The legislation includes provisions stating that anyone who joins a union will be considered a worker.
The United States imposes a 50% tariff on foreign steel and aluminum products and a 25% tariff on automobiles and auto parts. The KCTU demanded that the Lee Jae-myung administration needs to address the employment instability faced by millions of manufacturing workers and called for negotiations with the government.
Prior to this, the KCTU, the KCTU's textile and food union, and the Korean Federation of Trade Unions' metal union held a press conference in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning. Chairperson Jang stated, "Most of Korea's auto parts manufacturers have no place to sell their products unless the Hyundai Motor Group buys the parts," arguing that, from the perspective of the sustainability of domestic supply chain jobs in the manufacturing sector, it is essential to address the monopoly structure of intermediate demand.
Im Young-guk, Secretary-General of the textile and food union, noted, "The crisis in the petrochemical industry is very serious," and emphasized that in order to completely shift away from an industry policy focused solely on restructuring, the equal and substantive participation of stakeholders in labor must be guaranteed.