◀ Anchor ▶
Cleaning workers in the LG Group’s office building in the harsh cold.
As it became known that the building management company that fired them was owned by Chairman Koo Kwang-mo’s aunts, the controversy about “driving work” spread.
These aunts paid a minimum wage to the workers, while also collecting billions of won in dividends per year.
When public opinion worsened, it was decided to sell all of its shares.
Reporter Jo Yoon-jung covered it.
◀ Report ▶
LG Twin Tower lobby in Yeouido, Seoul.
Thirty fired cleaning workers are on the street for the 24th day.
From the 30th of last month, access to the building has been completely controlled, and cleaning workers are continuing protests without being able to leave the building for the 10th day.
[홍이정/LG트윈타워 청소노동자]
“How to live, how do you tell us to go out in this harsh snowy season? You have tinfoil, lay it out, and sleep in a sleeping bag.”
Cleaning workers claim that they have been working sincerely despite receiving the minimum wage for up to 10 years, and appeal to them to continue working.
[박소영/LG트윈타워 청소노동자]
“If you take off the three major insurances (salary), it is 1699,000 won. Almost all the cleaning people play the role of the household head. We were sentenced to death…”
The company they belong to is Jisoo I&C.
Jisoo I&C has suddenly notified of the dismissal at the end of last year, saying that the contract with LG’s management company was terminated and that it could no longer maintain employment.
However, Jisoo I&C is owned by two aunts of Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hiomi Goo and Mijeong Goo, and has managed many of the buildings of LG affiliates.
Two aunts received 6 billion won in dividends last year… It is more than the company’s net profit of 4.5 billion won.
[이창민/한양대 경영학부 교수]
“Recently, I’ve been taking dividends more intensively for 2-3 years. It’s a typical example of the total family’s self-interest.”
Public opinion deteriorated as the controversy over the workforce broke out and the fact that LG turned off electricity and even stopped bringing in lunchboxes to workers in the camp.
When the boycott began, eventually two aunts, including Mr. Goo Homi, decided to sell all of their shares.
[LG 관계자]
“It is the purpose of fundamentally solving the controversy about driving the workforce and selling it to SMEs so that the workforce can be opened.”
LG and Jisoo I&C announced that they would guarantee that workers under the age of 65 will be able to work in places other than LG Tower for the dismissed cleaning workers.
However, the controversy is expected to continue, as cleaners are confronting that if they are scattered elsewhere, they will face disadvantages due to the establishment of a union.
This is Yoon-Jung Jo on MBC News.
(Video coverage: Lee Junha / Video editing: Lee Hyunseon)
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