These branches engaged in on-site negotiations with each employer to raise wages and improve working conditions. Despite several rounds of negotiations, however, they failed to enter into an agreement, and accordingly, 124 KHMU branches applied for dispute mediation to the National Labor Relations Commission. The branches went on strike on September 2 as they did not conclude an agreement with management even after the 15-day mediation. On September 2 and 3, 11 branches went on strike. Among them, three branches including the Pusan National University Hospital branch are continuing negotiations after holding a warning strike. The Hanyang University Medical Center branch and others entered into an agreement with management after completing the strike they had held from September 2 to 7. Three branches for the Korea University Medical Center, Chosun University Hospital, and Honam Regional Rehabilitation Hospital have been on strike since the morning of September 2 until the present.

As of September 9, 81 of the 124 branches that applied for mediation have reached an agreement, while 43 branches are continuing negotiations.

The main demands of these branches are about the improvement of working conditions, including hiring of more staff, the conversion of non-regular workers to regular positions, an increase of wages by 5.6 percent, paid leave for emotional labor, and more days off and allowances.

During the strike, branches for hospitals are deploying essential personnel in the emergency room, intensive care unit, delivery room, and infant unit to prevent any accidents related to patients’ safety in accordance with the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act.

In Korea, COVID-19 confirmed cases are on the rise to record more than 2,000 a day. In this situation, it is burdensome to hold strike rallies with large numbers of people as seen in the past. Accordingly, some branches on strike are staging a “at-home rally” in which union members stay at home instead of going to work. Other branches are holding a strike rally with a small number of people gathering in the hospital lobby. For the at-home strike, they use YouTube to stage a rally and conduct training online. However, some branches are still staging rallies, picketing their hospitals, and holding press conferences. In this case, all participants are observing infection prevention guidelines by wearing protective clothing and masks. All union members have been vaccinated. In the pandemic era, assemblies and strikes are underway in a new form, completely different from that of the past.

“We cannot stand it any longer. Invest in people.” On the 8^th day of the strike, about 1,200 members of the Korea University Medical Center branch held a rally in front of the hospital while wearing protective clothing. The union members who participated in the rally issued a resolution and criticized the hospital, saying, “The Korea University Medical Center does not take a minimum level of social responsibility and role as a university hospital, but focuses only on making money.” They also pointed out, “The medical center has invested only in buildings and equipment, not in people, concentrating just on quantitative growth. As a result, the turnover rate of new nurses reaches 20 percent every year, and the rate of non-regular workers exceeds 20 percent.”

About 1,000 members of the Hanyang University Medical Center branch held a strike for seven days in protective clothing.

The Konyang University Medical Center branch used the parking lot for its seven-day strike. The union members took part in the strike while staying in their cars.

On the 8^th day of the strike, the Chosun University Hospital branch continues a strike rally and discussions as the union members gather by turns in the hospital lobby.

A day ahead of the strike, the KHMU held a rally in front of the office of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on September 1. A small number of union members staged a rally and broadcast it live on YouTube (KHMU TV channel).

The KHMU plans to launch an intensive industrial struggle with its 80,000 members against medical institutions that unfaithfully engage in negotiations and oppress the union.

Korea University Medical Center branch.

The Hanyang University Medical Center branch.