Resolution on Trade Union Rights in Korea
Trade unions representing teachers and other educational workers have equal basic trade union rights with other workers. However, some governments, on the pretext of economic efficiency, do not respect international labour standards concerning workers' freedom of association and their right to organise, to bargain collectively and to strike, and are suppressing the campaigns of educational workers who are seeking these rights. Among others, the government of Korea is urged to observe the commitment, which it made upon approval of its affiliation to the OECD, to bring domestic labour laws and regulations in line with international standards. To ensure that all teachers' unions are accorded basic labour rights and to establish their status as equal partners in the administration of education systems,
The Second World Congress of Education International, meeting in Washington D.C., U.S.A., from 25 to 29 July 1998:
resolves that the government of Korea should:
1. promote the ratification of ILO Conventions No.87, 98, and 151, which specify public workers' rights to bargain collectively. Urges the complete observance of the right of teachers' unions to bargain collectively during the period that the social agreement, drawn up by the tripartite body, which recognises part of the basic rights of educational workers is being evaluated;
2. respect the recommendations made by the ILO's Governing body and the OECD, and the commitment made upon affiliation to the OECD concerning the revision of domestic labour laws and regulations, and implement the revision of relevant laws for the legalisation of the KTU in July 1999;
3. reinstate promptly and unconditionally, in accordance with the ILO recommendation, the KTU members who have been dismissed for their participation in union activities;
4. enable the educational workers' unions to fully enjoy the rights recognised in international conventions and to strengthen union activities focusing on the most important issues for teachers and students, such as educational reform and improvement of educational services.
