'Still out on the street waging this fight': Women irregular workers and industrial action in Korea. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Young, Kim; Broadbent, Kaye
• Is Part Of: Economic and industrial democracy. Volume 39:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Community support -- E-N strike -- industrial action -- irregular workers -- part-time workers -- Republic of Korea -- retail industry -- women workers; Management -- Employee participation -- Periodicals; 331.0112
• DOI: 10.1177/0143831X15620847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-831X

Abstract

This article reviews the 510-day strike by women irregular workers in the South Korean retail industry, and analyses factors which made a group of women irregular workers, whose employment conditions render them the most marginal employees, to sustain a lengthy struggle despite financial and family pressures. This article argues there are three factors behind the struggle: first their desire to address the employment discrimination and inhumane treatment they faced at work; second their belief that the struggle was larger than just their immediate demands; and third the solidarity and support they received from both the union and full-time colleagues and from the broader community.