[Report file] 50th day of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's strike, rain that hits together

Labor-management negotiations with subcontractors of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, which are on the 50th day of the strike, are still experiencing difficulties.

In the negotiations that lasted until late yesterday (20th), the hope for a final conclusion was the same, but in the end, the differences could not be resolved.

The issue of civil and criminal liability and the issue of succession of union members to business closures.

These two were the main issues.

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"Civil and Criminal Liability, Membership Succession Issues"

The KCTU claims that the management (a representative of subcontractors) overturned its promise not to hold civil and criminal liability in relation to this strike.

On the other hand, the management company has never made such a promise, and maintained the position that the delegation cannot intervene even in civil and criminal lawsuits by individual companies.

Rather, it is argued that the union abruptly added an agenda and the agreement was delayed.

The issue of employment succession is also claimed by the union as a measure to protect its members, but the management says it is a demand that is difficult to accept in a recession.

In the end, negotiations that lasted until late at night ended without results.

Labor and management at the briefing emphasized, "We will talk fully and do our best in the re-opening negotiations."

There is a glimmer of hope that both sides have a clear will to solve the problem through negotiations at the brink of even mentioning the use of public power, but it does not appear that the position on the two issues mentioned above will be narrowed easily.

The will to settle negotiations between labor and management is clear...

Where is the mediator?

As I watched the negotiations between the workers of the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering subcontractor and the representatives of the subcontractors all night, I had a complicated mind.

The sincerity of resolving the strike by making some concessions was felt by both sides.

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Although there was discord in the negotiations that had come to the very last minute, both sides seemed firm in their determination to end the negotiations.

However, it is regrettable that the government and prime ministers still adhere to the bystander attitude.

The government is again urging the issue to be resolved through dialogue.

However, I am concerned that the share will be completely passed on to both labor and management.

The Minister of Employment and Labor, Jeong-sik Lee, visited Geoje for the second day to meet with labor and management, but he was unable to act as a mediator.

Remaining issues, such as litigation for damages and employment succession, may be difficult to solve only through dialogue between labor and management.

Therefore, experts agree that in the end, the problem will be solved only by the main contractor, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the major shareholder, Korea Development Bank, and the government.

This is because, in fact, the working conditions of subcontractors are not only a problem for subcontractors, but are in a structure that must be resolved through negotiations with the subcontractors.

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Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and the government must actively resolve the issue

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has directly and indirectly managed the overall work of subcontractors, and has discussed all matters related to subcontractors' wages and benefits, so the claim that the employer's status under the union law is clear is also gaining strength.

This is because subcontractors cannot actually raise wages unless the prime contractor raises the price, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the prime contractor, cannot do this without the approval of the major shareholder, Korea Development Bank, to execute the budget.

It will not be easy to close the conflict even after the strike with the urge to "solve it through dialogue" and the 'shifting responsibility' of the responsible actors.

This is why Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Korea Development Bank, and the government should more actively intervene in resolving this issue.

It is not the people who disrespect across the river that are desperate for both labor and management of the partner company right now, but 'people who welcome the rain together', isn't it?