The purpose of this paper is to examine the trust towards labor movements and to propose sustainable solutions that Korean labor movements need to consider in order for increasing social trust.
However, it is found that since there are excessive conf...
The purpose of this paper is to examine the trust towards labor movements and to propose sustainable solutions that Korean labor movements need to consider in order for increasing social trust.
However, it is found that since there are excessive conflicts of interest dispute and radical political ideologies deeply inside of the labor unions, the effect of the social trust in labor movements is regarded as negative. In addition, failing to reach a certain level of public expectation towards the social responsibility of labor movements is also thought of one of the elements that weaken the social trust.
This paper observes the resolutions for the recovery of social trust in labor movements through four different aspects: first of all, the new ideological paradigms that labor movements have to pursue support the very concept of the social movement unionism, which is different from that of political and utilitarian unionism as well as the revolutionary dispute of 1980s. On the other hand, the new labor movements importantly contemplate the responses dealing with the global transition in 21st century and the social responsibilities of labor movements. Social movement unionism expands the boundaries of labor movement and its rights to social context.
Furthermore, the ethics of the labor movements starts from a philosophy that ‘labor movement is a service.’ The philosophy that is based on this ethics indicates that labors and other interested parties (i.e. company, government, NGOs, consumers, public, etc) are intimately related each other. Also, it means that labor movements are responsible for those communities. In respect of the ethics of the labor movements, it is highlighted that honesty, transparency, as well as democratic leadership and rationality of labor movements are crucial elements for the ethics.
Thirdly, for the improvement of social trust, the interest and the function of labor movements towards labor-poverty classes are important factors. There are evidences that labor movements are responsible for intensifying the income difference and the polarization in labor quality. Thus, labor unions must reject selfishness in order to guarantee work places and quality of life of labor-poverty classes, and to prevent human and labor rights. Moreover, through the concession of standard labors, the overall condition of labor-poverty classes should be promoted.
The last task that labor movements have to deal with is to structure a new relationship model with local society. Labor movements must fail if they are separated from local society. In this recent situation that labor movements encounter a drastic downfall in social trust and aggravated labor circumstances, labor movements need to establish a permanent relationship: reciprocal community unionism.
Labor is a strength that organizes fundamental structure of a society such as economic growth, capital markets and democratic government, which are based on the concept of labor. Hence, Korean society encourages labor movements to advocate economic advancement and manipulate the atmosphere of the society into a more comfortable state. In addition, it helps them to control the revolutionary interest dispute for the sake of public interests. These public demands and social responsibilities are directly associated with the trust in current labor movements.