MZ generation-led unions flex muscle across board

Leaders of a council for young unionized workers applaud at the group's inauguration ceremony at Dongja Art Hall in Seoul, Feb. 21. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kee

Young workers prefer work-life balance over political slogans

By Park Jae-hyuk

White-collar employees at LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Heavy Industries and several other large manufacturers faced skepticism when they took unprecedented steps in 2021 to form labor unions to lobby employers to offer wages and welfare similar to those of blue-collar workers.

As the unionized white-collar workers have stayed away from the entrenched Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), it seemed to be difficult at that time for them to sway management, as well as the labor-friendly Moon Jae-in administration.

Since the arrival of the business-friendly Yoon Suk Yeol administration in 2022, however, unionized white-collar workers have drawn more attention from the government, which declared war against the two militant umbrella unions.

Their movement has gained momentum, thanks to support from younger workers in various fields, including manufacturing, IT and public services. Over the past couple of years, unionized workers at POSCO, GS E&C, Ssangyong E&C and multiple other private and state-run businesses have tried to leave the militant umbrella unions, in line with requests from younger members.

The workers in their 20s and 30s, who are part of the so-called MZ Generation ― Millennials and Generation Z ― even organized a council named "Refresh" in February, without joining the KCTU or FKTU.

"Although strikes and rallies are the basic rights of labor unions, we do not think a union's role is to call for a certain person's release or the withdrawal of U.S. Forces stationed in Korea," said Song Si-young, the council's vice chairman who leads one of the multiple unions of Seoul Metro. "Instead of chanting political and biased slogans, we will raise diverse and righteous voices toward the labor market."

Although the council said its members include senior workers in their 50s, it emphasized that its members prioritize fairness and rationality, just as most of the MZ generation does.

Kim Mun-su, chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, who attended the Refresh Union's inauguration ceremony, welcomed the group's policy of complying with the laws and rules.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with young workers at a cafe in Seoul in this February 2021 file photo. Yoon was a presidential candidate of the People Power Party at that time. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun

The president, who had a meeting with unionized white-collar workers during his election campaign in 2021, has also paid keen attention to the so-called MZ labor groups, amid his intensifying conflicts with the conventional umbrella unions.

"It seems that getting paid for their work done represents fairness and justice for those in their 20s and 30s," Yoon said at that time. "I will accept the request of the MZ unions to allow them to negotiate with the management as a labor representative."

In February, the government decided to financially support the MZ unions by reducing subsidies that have been given to the two umbrella unions.

In response to the recent backlash from the MZ unions over a proposed workweek reform, Yoon immediately ordered the labor ministry to reconsider its plan to enable companies to increase the maximum weekly work limit to 69 hours during weekdays with heavy workloads and allow workers to take longer vacations later on.

Labor Minister Lee Jung-sik also met with the Refresh Union on March 15, a day after the president gave the instruction.

Mixed response

Amid the government's amicable attitude toward the MZ unions, management has also reached out to them.

LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan met with the unionized white-collar workers last year, promising to increase communication with employees.

"The MZ generation-led unions have already become a kind of social trend," said Kim Yong-choon, head of the Federation of Korean Industries employment policy team. "They are expected to bring a new wave into Korea's labor-management relations."

However, the two umbrella unions criticized the government's stance on the MZ unions, regarding the support as part of efforts to disrupt labor movements.

"Unless workers express their opinions about political issues in Korea, they cannot change their lives," KCTU Chairman Yang Kyeung-soo said at a press conference earlier this year. "MZ generations did not witness the anti-American protest in 2002, but as time goes on, they will realize that intervention in political issues is important to change the lives of the working class."

FKTU said the government and conservative politicians have used the MZ unions to change the country's labor regulations for the sake of management.

Shinsegae Department Store union's leader Kim Young-hoon, center, speaks during a press conference in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on March 15. Newsis

But at the same time, the umbrella unions also began promoting their local branches consisting of younger workers.

When Shinsegae Department Store's employees established the retailer's first-ever labor union under FKTU on March 15, the umbrella union emphasized the fact that the establishment was led by the company's employees who have worked for less than 12 years.

"The Shinsegae union is a very young labor union led by the MZ generation," said Park Jong-yoon, secretary general of the Federation of Korean Textile Distribution Workers' Unions, an affiliate of FKTU.

Experts expect the MZ unions to prompt conventional unions to pursue more transparent and horizontal operations, affecting labor-management relations led by the two umbrella unions.

"Given that most MZ unions are comprised of white-collar workers familiar with social media, they are expected to play bigger roles through active communication," said Kim Dae-jong, professor of business administration at Sejong University.