In General, a lock-out is a means that an employer can perform against the industrial dispute legally. The employer can temporarily refuse to accept the labour of workers in collective manner, in order to recover the balance of power between the empl...
In General, a lock-out is a means that an employer can perform against the industrial dispute legally. The employer can temporarily refuse to accept the labour of workers in collective manner, in order to recover the balance of power between the employer and the workers brought about by the industrial action of workers.
Since the early 1990s, employers have used the lock-out consistently with a means of against the industrial dispute. However it's concept, effect and recognition have been controversial because the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act(TULRAA) doesn't provide the legal concept and effect of lock-out. Article 46 in TULRAA only provides that possibility of the lock-out after starting workers' the industrial action.
The purpose of this thesis is to review the standard of judgment about legitimacy of the lock-out and it's legal effect.
The constitution of Korea guarantees only employees' right to strike. Therefore employer's right to the lock-out is based on the Article 46 of TULRAA. It can be said a right of lock-out is originated from principle of material equality and principle of balance of power between the employer and the employees, the Article 46 needs to be understood as the ground for considering the lock-out as the defensive right. The employers cannot lock out freely whenever they want. First of all, it is limited by principle of equality, and then by TULRAA. The lock-out should meet the criteria of counterterror(that is to say, it shoud be done as passive way only after the industrial action of workers takes place.) and defensiveness. Furthermore, it should satisfy the criteria of necessity, brought about by unavoidable circumstance that prompt the employer to resort to a lock out. If the purpose of the lock-out is to prevent employees from joining or designating a labor organization or to obstruct their free choice of representative, this is cleary "discouragement of union membership" through the intentional deprivation of job opportunities. therfore it is the violation of the Article 81 of TULRAA.
As the effect of lock-out employer is exempted from the obligation to pay wages. The problem is whether or not to admit the removal of workers from the work place with the effect of lockout. Particularly, The legal problem is related to sit-down strike. Sit-down strike to occupy part of there is justified in Korea. Case law of Court say if a lock out of the building is carried out, strikers should leave the place of business since the right for control over the properties is fully recovered. However it isn't considered right. The legitimate sit-down strike is already balanced between the employer and the workers, hence the removal effect or no-entrance effect does not occur directly from lockout and in case strikers do sit-down legally, in spite of lockout, the sit-down does not convert into illegal action.