4-shift, 2-day work system demanded by airport unions in collective bargaining

Unions representing subcontracted airport workers are demanding direct collective bargaining with their parent companies, Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airports Corporation. Key demands include implementing a 4-shift, 2-day work system to prevent consecutive night shifts and increasing personnel at regional airports.

The Public Transport Workers' Union's Incheon Airport branch is pushing for a transition from the current 3-shift, 2-day system to a 4-shift, 2-day system. The existing arrangement, which involves alternating between day and night shifts followed by days off, inevitably leads to consecutive night work. The union also seeks a 4.5-day work week for subcontracted employees and reduced working hours for environmental staff.

Meanwhile, the Korea Airports Corporation branch is focusing on staffing shortages at smaller airports like Gwangju, Ulsan, and Daegu, which they claim suffer from chronic understaffing. These airports reportedly experience an average of 27.2 industrial accidents annually. The union is also demanding improvements to the safety work permit approval process and guarantees for union activities within airports.

Both airport corporations have reportedly attempted to evade negotiations by seeking separate bargaining units or failing to publicly announce union negotiation requests. The Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission approved Incheon Airport Corporation's request for separate bargaining units in April, while the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission ruled that Korea Airports Corporation must announce the negotiation requests. The unions criticize these public institutions for allegedly using legal consultations, costing millions of won, to avoid genuine negotiations, contrary to the spirit of labor law amendments.