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The KHMU Works on Climate Action in Everyday Life

by KANG,YeonBae posted Sep 20, 2022 Replies 0
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1.    The Labor-Management Joint Declaration and Collective Bargaining Agreement at Each Union Branch for Climate Action at the Industry Level

2.    “Be Wise to Live More Sustainably” Campaign

 

The KHMU (Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union, President Na Soon-ja) has been campaigning for climate action to mitigate climate change. The campaign “Be Wise to Live More Sustainably” is one of its efforts to encourage union members to join forces in living everyday life in more environmentally friendly ways.

 

The KHMU newly formed a Solidary with Society Unit in 2021 and adopted a “Special Resolution for Climate Action” in its Regular Congress in February, 2022. The industry-level healthcare union has since been implementing multiple activities. First, the Union held its first expert discussion session in April. Plus, in a one-day education session, it has provided relevant information to all union members in a climate change video it produced. Union members positively evaluated the video-based trainings. Also, the Union produced and circulated a series of news briefs with simple texts and images, known as “Card News” in South Korea, and union members used them to take a selfie photo with the one-page news card and upload it to raise public awareness of climate issues. At the same time, the Union joined Climate Strike Korea as an organization and added their forces to this non-profit that fights climate change.

 

The KHMU ran a training program for its executive committee members in Samcheok city, Gangwon province where a campaign against the Samcheok coal power plant’s power generation is taking place. The Union also participated in local campaign activities. Plus, in 2021 and 2022, it has funded the Climate Disobedience Fund that supports climate activities.

 

Initiated by the KHMU, the 2021 industry-level collective bargaining reached an agreement on joint climate action between labor and management. The two parties supported a common resolution that the healthcare industry should protect people’s lives from the spread of infectious diseases arising from climate challenges and endeavor to make our society more sustainable. Based on this perception, they agreed to the following actions: ▲ providing regular training sessions on climate issues to the entire staff ▲ conducting a labor-management joint climate campaign for patients and caregivers ▲ establishing a response system in case of medical and infectious disease disasters, reducing greenhouse gases in hospital buildings and premises, coming up with ways to use more renewable energy sources and use energy more efficiently, providing eco-friendly cups within hospitals, using local agri-products, designating Day of Veggie Meals for employees’ menus, and using fewer one-off disposable living items.

 

In addition, on November 17, 2018, the KHMU held the Labor Management Joint Declaration Ceremony with employers from 102 medical institutions. The declaration highlights “The healthy earth only allows human beings to be healthy.”

 

Since both labor and management signed the industry-level agreement, each union branch has been negotiating with its employers on how to respond to the climate crisis, and their agreement details local actions and other activities.  

 


In 2022, the KHMU selected a person in charge of climate actions per each of the 11 local branches and has been discussing how to respond to climate challenges on a regular basis. Furthermore, the “Be Wise to Live More Sustainably” campaign occurs every quarter to help union members raise their awareness of the climate crisis in daily lives and acquaint members with low-carbon habits. The Union also plans to organize a one-day education program and “Climate School” courses for its members during the latter half of this year. In addition, the KHMU will play an active role in the protest called “September 24 Climate Justice March” with the banner “Climate disaster, we can’t endure it anymore!” The rally will open its stage in the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul at 3:00 pm on September 24.

 

In the meantime, the KHMU has been conducting a “Paperless Conference” campaign for the last five years. One of the actions of the campaign has been to skip a conference booklet and other printed conference materials. The regular congress provides electronic files to participants on a USB drive. Likewise, members of the General Executive Committee and Central Steering Committee use laptop computers for reference materials, rather than hard copies of those materials. Also in the last several years, regular congresses and other meeting supply no paper cups. Attendees have been encouraged to bring their own cups to drink water, tea, and coffee.


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(KHMU Newsletter on 4 dated on September 20, 2022)





Korean Health & Medical Workers' Union

Address KHMU Bldg, 10 Beodeunaru-ro 16-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 07230 Korea

Tel +82 2 2677 4889

Fax +82 2 2677 1769

E-mail khmuinfo@gmail.com