KCTF Responds to Kakao Negotiation Controversy: "Official Delegation Within Industry-Level Union"

Final Authority Rests with Industry Union Chairperson
NC Union Expresses Solidarity in Official Statement

As labor-management conflict continues at Kakao, the IT Committee of the Korean Federation of Chemical, Textile, Food, and Service Workers' Unions (KCTF) explained that the designation of the Naver labor union branch head as the chief negotiator for Kakao's labor-management talks is an "official delegation of bargaining rights within an industry-level union."

Yonhap News

According to the IT Committee on July 3, the KCTF, which includes both the Naver and Kakao labor unions, operates as an industry-level union rather than a company-level union. The authority to conclude collective bargaining agreements belongs to the industry-wide union chairperson.

A representative from the IT Committee stated, "With hundreds of branches belonging to the KCTF, it is not feasible for the chairperson to participate in every negotiation, so bargaining rights are delegated. However, the final authority to sign agreements remains with the chairperson." The process involves the chief negotiator conducting negotiations after discussions with the Kakao branch, and once negotiations are concluded, a vote among Kakao branch union members is held. The chairperson then signs the agreement based on the outcome of the vote.

The committee further explained that this system is not unique to the IT industry but is also practiced in other industry-level unions, such as those in the metalworking and healthcare sectors. The intent is to join forces to improve working conditions across the entire industry rather than at individual companies.

Addressing concerns about the potential leakage of negotiation information to other companies, the committee stated, "Negotiations are conducted by bargaining committee members on behalf of union members, so any information shared by management during talks is also shared with union members. If there are issues requiring close discussion between labor and management, confidentiality is maintained."

After wage negotiations broke down in May, the Kakao branch held two strikes last month.

Meanwhile, on the previous day, the 'Universe Conquest' branch of NC within the KCTF issued a statement supporting the Kakao branch's strike. The statement read, "Kakao's management has continued to rule without responsibility, failing to respond to workplace harassment and forcing consent to forensic investigations under an uncommunicative management style. It is time to end the irresponsible management structure that forces workers to bear the consequences of poor decisions made by management." The statement also expressed support by saying, "The reality faced by the Kakao branch reflects issues across the entire IT and gaming industries and resonates deeply with the workplace concerns of NC branch union members."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.