On the 27th, a labor union composed of irregular workers affiliated with a subcontractor of Hyundai Steel held a rally, stating, 'Hyundai Steel, come to the negotiations.' They also filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Steel's CEO, Chung Eui-sun of Hyundai Motor Group. The slogan 'Come out, the real boss' is aligned with labor's calls. This occurred just three days after the revision of the labor union law, commonly referred to as the 'yellow envelope law,' passed the National Assembly.
◇"If irregular workers achieve negotiations, it will spread to other subcontractors"
About 130 members of the irregular workers union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Hyundai Steel chapter held a rally at 11 a.m. in front of the main gate of the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, to demand 'recognition of workers' status.'
They are affiliated with Hyundai Steel's in-house subcontractors. They wore yellow vests inscribed with messages such as 'Hyundai Steel, come to negotiations immediately' and 'Stop illegal dispatch and convert to regular employment.' Their placards read, 'Prosecute Hyundai Steel, the corporate criminal of illegal dispatch' and 'Hyundai Steel must immediately comply with the court's ruling.'
Before the rally, they held a press conference and stated, 'Hyundai Steel has violated the dispatch law and exploited irregular workers, forcing subsidiaries to cover up this crime.' They further noted, 'If irregular workers secure direct negotiations and put an end to illegal dispatch, this precedent will pave the way for improved labor rights in other subcontracting and indirect employment sites.'
◇Lawsuit against Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai Motor Group chairman, and former and current representatives of Hyundai Steel
The irregular workers union affiliated with Hyundai Steel's subcontractors claims that Hyundai Steel did not comply with the Ministry of Employment and Labor's direct employment corrective order in 2021, the Incheon District Court's direct employment ruling in 2022, and the Seoul Administrative Court's ruling on the unfair labor practice of refusing to negotiate on the 7th.
After the press conference, 100 union members submitted a complaint to the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office regarding 'the Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Steel violating the dispatch law.' The plaintiffs include 1,892 members of the irregular worker chapter. The defendants are Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Seo Kang-hyun, CEO of Hyundai Steel; and Ahn Dong-il, former CEO of Hyundai Steel.
The members expressed in the complaint about suing Chairman Chung, stating, '(Chairman Chung) was designated as the head of the Hyundai Motor Group in the Fair Trade Commission's designation of large business groups. He is one who has directed several illegal acts by violating the dispatch law at Hyundai Steel and elsewhere.'
They continued, 'The defendants have violated the dispatch law. Despite the Ministry of Employment and Labor's corrective order, they attempted to evade their obligations by establishing subsidiaries,' asserting, 'The need for punishment against the defendants is very significant.'
The Metal Workers' Union also filed a complaint against Hyundai Steel's corporate entity. They argue that Hyundai Steel holds the status of the employer for 'in-house subcontract workers' under labor union law, and failing to respond to the negotiation requests of union members affiliated with subcontractors constitutes unfair labor practices.
◇Irregular workers union members, sit-in protest at Dangjin Steelworks in 2021... Demand for withdrawal of '20 billion won damages suit'
Union members affiliated with the Hyundai Steel Irregular Workers chapter occupied the control center at Hyundai Steel's Dangjin Steelworks for over 50 days starting from Aug. 23, 2021. They protested against Hyundai Steel's decision to regularize through hiring subsidiaries to resolve the issue of illegal dispatch of subcontractor employees.
Hyundai Steel filed a lawsuit for damages exceeding 2 billion won against the union and 180 workers, citing damage caused by the occupation of the control center, including property damage and production disruptions. The Incheon District Court ruled in June that the plaintiffs should be compensated about 590 million won, granting part of the union's appeal. The union is currently appealing, as the second trial is underway. They are demanding that Hyundai Steel withdraw the '20 billion won damages lawsuit.'
The amendment to the yellow envelope law that passed the National Assembly broadened the scope of strikes that unions can carry out to include 'management's major decisions' affecting 'labor treatment' in addition to that. Claims for damages by corporations are now only exceptionally allowed for illegal and violent acts. The yellow envelope law will take effect six months after its promulgation.