Conflict is escalating over a reorganization plan by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, which outlines how functions will be distributed across its three offices in Gwangju, Muan and the eastern region, causing turmoil within the public sector.
The Gwangju branch of the Korean Government Employees' Union, the Jeonnam Provincial Government Employees' Union and the Open Government Employees' Union have clashed, raising allegations of spreading false information and even mentioning requests for a police investigation.
In response, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City has stepped in to mediate. It formed a "Joint Labor-Management Council" to devise a fair and transparent plan for organizational operations. Through this council, the city plans to end the wasteful conflict and promptly prepare a next reorganization plan that fully reflects voices from the field.
"The true completion of integration becomes possible only when the hearts of public officials come together as one," Hwang Ki-yeon, administrative vice mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, said on the 27th. "Under the principles of guaranteeing prior workplaces, dispersing support functions and balancing the use of the three offices, I hope the labor-management council will produce the fairest and most reasonable reorganization plan."
The Integrated Special City decided to move away from a reorganization approach led by the department in charge and instead seek solutions through forward-looking communication with the unions.
The "Joint Labor-Management Council" will include the Integrated Special City's organization and personnel departments, along with the Gwangju office union and the Muan office union, all participating on equal terms.
In particular, the formation of the joint labor-management council came about after the Integrated Special City fully accepted a "consultative body with government employees' union participation," which the unions of both offices had requested through a joint agreement. The specific operating method of the council and the composition of its working-level members will be transparently decided through mutual consultation between labor and management at the first meeting.
The council is expected to discuss the arrangement of functions and departments for a balanced use of the three offices, guarantees of prior workplaces, systems ensuring fair personnel opportunities, and employees' working conditions and grievances.
Earlier, when the Gwangju regional government employees' union raised concerns over a Muan-centered organizational arrangement in connection with the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City reorganization, the Jeonnam regional union pushed back, calling for an end to the spread of false information and the incitement of conflict. The dispute remains ongoing.
