On December 6th, education public service workers such as school food service assistants, special education aides, and elementary care specialists in Incheon went on a general strike. The Incheon branch of the National Education Public Service Employees Union held a strike rally in front of the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, demanding improved working conditions including bonuses and vacation pay. Approximately 900 workers participated in the one-day strike, including around 350 school food service assistants and 160 special education aides.
The participants expressed their grievances about low basic wages not even reaching minimum wage, the widening wage gap with regular employees the longer they work, and a lack of recognition for their job value in pay structure. They lamented the differential in basic welfare benefits for contract workers, non-application of basic seniority, and wage freezes that have persisted for years. They criticized the lack of income during school vacations, describing it as a metaphorical “barley hump” period.
The union members also denounced the authorities’ response to their demands, claiming that instead of providing responsible solutions to eliminate discrimination and acknowledge job value, the Ministry of Education responded by arresting union representatives. This, they argue, was further compounded by the government’s attempts to suppress their strike efforts through measures they consider unconstitutional.
In response, the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education stated they were currently assessing the number of strike participants and monitoring how schools were coping with the strike. They mentioned that schools with a higher number of striking kitchen assistants were providing alternative meals like bread, while those with fewer strikers were giving simple meals.
Earlier negotiations between the union and the Ministry of Education along with 17 city and provincial education offices failed to meet their demands, which included a uniform job allowance of 50,000 KRW per occupation, an increase in regular bonuses from 1 million KRW to 1.5 million KRW, and higher holiday pay, leading to the decision for a strike.