1979년, 그녀들의 선택

Abstract

In this study, we examined the union’s unique behavior before occupation of headquarters of New Democratic Party and the situation of union members who chose the occupation to protect the democratic labor unions. “YH accident based on union members from the bottom” has created autonomous space from the government and employer through self-governing of dormitory and various small group activities. By trial and error of labor union’s leadership, the members could expand their understanding of the democratic labor union through self-correction and meeting and union gathering. Although not highly political consciousness, they did not want to return the situation before formation of labor union. Finally, the union members struggled with patience and developed a “legal struggle” including sit-in, labor condition survey, appeals. What should be noted in the YH labor union activities was that it operated a labor union that allowed many union members to participate in autonomously without forces such as the Urban Industrial Mission Church. The occupation of YH female workers was difficult to explain only with the political incident that inspired the collapse of Yushin regime. After Gwangju uprising in 1980, revolutionary labor force criticized the democratic movement in 1970s as economicism and tade unionism. However, unlike the sit-down protest in 1980s that ended in failure without union members, YH female workers chose occupation of headquarters of New Democratic Party in fear of being driven away and forced to be suppressed by the police. Through many members abandoned normalization of company, process of preparing for long-term struggle was possible due to the participation of members based on systematic preparation and ongoing legal struggle. The union members made up a team and prepared medicines, equipment, placards for protest. This process was to unite labor union and its members. It can be inferred from the memory of the August 10 closing assembly that over 80% of the members wanted to protect for democratic labor union. The closing assembly was not just a space of fear. The labor union members talked about the American labor movement, self-burning of Chun Taeil, struggle of Dong-il Textile Manufacturing, and human life. The reason they chose to protect the value of the democratic labor union was wrath of slavery treament for many years, the shame when abandoning struggle and the bad labor laws over all years. It was wish that wanted to live as a human being who had alarmed society. What has to be reassessed through the occupation of headquarters of New Democratic Party is a woman’s choice despite unimaginable fear and panic. A photograph of the female workers who gathered and smiled after seeing the sitting scene of headquarters of New Democratic Party published in the newspaper was shining constellation that must be recorded in the history of the labor movement.