Fired workers from the National Garden held a resolution meeting on March 31st at the east gate entrance of Korea’s first national garden. President Yoon Seok-yeol had attended the opening ceremony of the garden fair at 7:00 pm and left around 7:50 pm. The workers held a ‘fighting victory resolution rally’ while the police force surrounded them. Union members took to the stage to express their thoughts and gratitude, with one member saying, “I believe that we will fight until the end and win someday.” Director Yoon Bu-sik criticized President Yoon and Suncheon Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu, stating that they did not know the minds of the laid-off workers of the National Garden. Workers urged Mayor Roh to guarantee employment succession, following the government’s guideline to hire full-time workers. They also condemned the old market for making splitting contracts to avoid paying severance pay. The Suncheonman Bay National Garden Branch of the Public Solidarity Workers’ Union held a ‘garden fair for whom?’ event and press conference.
At 9:20 p.m. on the 31st, the entrance to the east gate of Korea’s first national garden, where the ‘Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo’ was held.
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who attended the opening ceremony of the garden fair at 7:00 pm on the same day, left around 7:50 pm.
This is because the workers, who claimed to have been fired while working at the National Garden, made up their minds while holding a ‘fighting victory resolution rally’, while the police force, which was increased than usual, surrounded them.
It was a mild spring night with a temperature of 15 degrees, but the hearts of the workers on the asphalt floor were colder than in the middle of winter.
The union members who came to the stage confessed their thoughts one by one.
One union member said, “I thought regarding quitting the struggle for reinstatement hundreds of times a day, but I’m enduring it with the power of solidarity.”
The union member who took over the microphone also raised his voice, saying, “I believe that we will fight until the end and win someday.”
Another union member expressed his gratitude by naming names one by one, saying, “The head of the Jeonnam headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Yun Bu-sik, the head of the Suncheon branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Choi Hyeon-tae, and the KCTU Jeonnam branch propaganda director Min-ji Lee have always been there to help.”
A union member who participated as a Cheongil branch said, “Out of the 18 workers who were laid off, there are only two male union members, but we will continue to play our role properly.”
Director Yoon Bu-sik criticized, “President Yoon or Suncheon Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu do not know the minds of the laid-off workers of the National Garden.”
Workers who worked in the national garden urged Mayor Roh to guarantee employment succession, as per the government’s guideline that full-time workers will be hired.
Workers also condemned the old market, claiming that they were making so-called ‘splitting contracts’, such as signing contracts from January to March and then contracts from April to July to avoid paying severance pay.
On the other hand, on ‘Press Day’ on the 27th, Mayor Noh maintained his negative stance by openly discussing the criminal history of certain workers in response to questions from the media regarding the laid-off workers of the National Garden.
The Suncheonman Bay National Garden Branch of the Public Solidarity Workers’ Union held a ‘garden fair for whom?’ Withdraw the unfair dismissal and take over the employment according to the government guidelines’, and hold a press conference.
The fight for justice and fair treatment for the fired workers at the Suncheon Bay National Garden continues. Despite the mild spring night, the workers’ hearts were cold as they stood on the asphalt, surrounded by an increased police force. But their spirits were lifted by the solidarity of their fellow union members and their unwavering belief that victory would one day be theirs. As they condemned the unfair splitting contracts and demanded employment succession, they called out the names of those who had supported them in their struggle. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this battle will be, but one thing is for sure: these workers will not give up until they have secured their rights and their future.