If you have been walking around the Liberal Arts and Humanities Campus in Korea University (KU) this spring, then it is likely that you have heard the passionate speeches and powerful songs ricocheting throughout the campus. This comes from none other than one of KU’s members: the non-regular workers’ demonstrations. To acquire their just wages and enhance their working conditions, they must take matters into their own hands and protest in the streets. With their firm goal of resolving the stagnated situation between the university and themselves, these workers display their perseverance to not give up on this fight. 

From Mondays to Fridays, since March 14, the non-regular workers of KU, under the KU branch of Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU), have been demonstrating for their rights. During the first half of the protests, they gather in front of the Main Gate, then they move to KU’s Main Hall. The demonstrations, which span from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M., consist of singing and dancing activities, as well as speeches by students and Seo Jae Sun, the leader of the demonstrations. Despite the scorching sunlight, more than 130 participants of the KPTU KU branch regularly partake in this movement in the hope of having their desperate voices heard by the KU community. Through an interview with Seo, the main spokesperson of the union, The Granite Tower (GT) has acquired a better understanding of the current situation.

The Aims of the Workers and How the University Has Responded

The first goal of the demonstrations is to raise the non-regular workers’ hourly wages. The root of the problem lies in that these workers sign annual contracts, which means they have no choice but to re-negotiate their terms every year. This condition is unlike that of regular workers, whose wages are automatically adjusted over time. In response to the workers’ request for a raise of 400 Korean Won (KRW) per hour, the subcontractor refused to administer any changes and notified them to negotiate with KU, the prime contractor. From last November to this March, the non-regular workers had undergone 10 collective bargaining sessions, all of which resulted in failure. Following this series of efforts, three more adjustments were carried out but had no promising results. Thus, the workers are left with no other option but to march in the campus and assert their rights. 

The second objective is to enhance the deteriorating state of working conditions at KU. The official working hours are from 6:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.; with two hours being excluded for lunchtime, these workers are credited for eight hours of work. However, in practical terms, their workload exceeds their working hours since they must fulfill the responsibilities of cleaning classrooms and other vital tasks to maintain proper hygiene in KU. In addition, most of the staff lounges are located in the basement, where they must cook their own food due to the lack of food expenses. To make matters worse, complaints on the smell have forced these workers to resort to very minimal options for food. As a result, they have been requesting air purifiers, which will help tackle the smell, to be installed in the staff lounges. 

Although KU has been responding to the workers’ demands to some extent, it is still not sufficient to meet their needs. For instance, air purifiers were only installed in three of the many staff lounges in the LG-POSCO Business Hall. Also, in response to the request for shower facilities, the university suggested to build them in locations far away from the staff lounges, which diminishes the purpose of taking a shower in a hot weather. The workers’ only hope is that the university may be possibly reconsidering its erroneously planned proposal. On a larger scale, the workers are primarily targeting the President of KU, Chung Jin Taek, as they believe he has the utmost authority in responding to their condition.

KU Was Not Built in a Day 

What should be noted is that the workers are demonstrating in civility. Placards and posters are only hung where they are legally allowed to, and songs are performed to promote a peaceful engagement. Even though these workers are out in the sunlight while giving up an hour of their lunchtimes, the reason they are able to put forth patience is because of the affection they have for KU. With the campus being their lifelong workplace, their protests are not simply for the sake of themselves; their efforts will benefit the entire community in the long run.

With this ideal in mind, the non-regular workers urge all members of the KU community, ranging from professors to students, to be more aware of their situation. Compared to how students in the past were more actively involved in protesting unjust laboring conditions, students nowadays tend to show less interest. Not only do students that help spread the voices of these workers serve as an inspiration for many, but they also put more pressure on the university to act responsibly. In fact, organizing annual discussions between workers, students, and professors would help facilitate healthy conversations to create a more understanding school community.

The persistent demonstrations by the union are indications of how their working environments have long been neglected. Currently, a display of genuine attention and respect for the workers in its campus is hard to find. Awareness and solidarity should be common goals that universities strive for. Afterall, KU belongs not only to the students and professors, but also to the staff that help run this community behind-the-scenes.