Labor, Civic Groups Call on Gyeongsangnam-do to Mediate Talks Over Hanwha Ocean High-Altitude Protest

The Gyeongnam Committee for Winning Direct Negotiations with Hanwha Ocean Subcontract Workers called on Gyeongsangnam-do to mediate the high-altitude protest by Hanwha Ocean subcontract workers, which has continued for 30 days.

The Gyeongnam Task Force, made up of labor unions, civil society groups and progressive political parties in the region, made the announcement at a press conference at the provincial government press center on October 29.

The Gyeongnam Committee for Securing Direct Bargaining with Hanwha Ocean Subcontract Workers is calling on South Gyeongsang Province to mediate the high-altitude protest by Hanwha Ocean subcontract workers. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

"At the third round of negotiations on October 22, Hanwha Ocean recognized its status as an employer for only 6 of the 36 demands raised by the union, covering issues such as workplace facility improvements and occupational safety," they said. "This means that wages, welfare, employment and union activities, which are the most pressing concerns for subcontract workers, are not considered subjects for negotiation."

They added, "The repeated incidents of workers climbing cranes, following the 51-day strike in 2022 and last year's 97-day high-altitude protest, show that the structure in which the principal contractor fails to fulfill its responsibilities has not changed."

Members of the Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors Branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union have been staging a high-altitude protest since September 30, climbing onto the roof of the pre-outfitting painting plant at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje site and onto cranes at two locations in the system scaffold assembly area.

"There must be substantive progress in negotiations and an early resolution to the high-altitude protest," the task force said. "Workers' lives and safety are at stake, as are the regional economy and people's livelihoods. The governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, who is responsible for the safety and right to survive of residents and for the regional economy, must step in."

It also called on the provincial government to "publicly urge Hanwha Ocean to include the entire set of demands on the negotiation agenda and engage in good-faith negotiations with the principal contractor, establish a consultative body involving the central government, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Hanwha Ocean and the union, and do everything within its power."

A meeting between Gyeongsangnam-do Province and the Gyeongsangnam-do Committee for Hanwha Ocean Subcontract Workers’ Fight for Direct Negotiations with the Principal Contractor was held in a small conference room at the provincial government office. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

It further urged the provincial government to "come forward responsibly with measures to protect the lives and safety of the workers staging the high-altitude protest and ensure that it is brought to an early end."

After the press conference that day, the task force met with the director general of the provincial government's Economic and Trade Bureau and other officials in a small conference room at the provincial government building.

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