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The massive layoff of Eastar Jet workers has become a political problem. In particular, criticism is mounting that Lee Sang-jik, the Eastar Jet founder and incumbent member of the ruling party, remains the actual and responsible owner of the situation.
The key question is how Eastar Holdings, a paper company 100% owned by Lee Sang-jik’s two sons, became Eastar Jet’s largest shareholder. Eastar Holdings, established with a capital of 30 million won, raised 10 billion won to buy shares of Eastar Jet worth tens of billions of won and became a major shareholder. In this process, suspicions arose that they had committed various illegal activities such as holding borrowed shares, tax evasion and donation of files.
He is particularly criticized for the massive layoffs of the ruling party legislator from his family business. Eastar Jet management did not even make the slightest effort to avoid firing. He did not apply for the job maintenance allowance, saying that he would not be able to pay the unpaid employment insurance premium.
However, Lee Sang-jik has a cheeky attitude and says, ‘Because I have dedicated my actions, I have nothing else to do.
Lee Sang-jik is considered a pro-moon jae-in when participating in Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign, and he has been winning and winning throughout the Moon Jae-in administration. After going through the director of a public institution, he even attached a badge to the member of the National Assembly.
Because of this, the responsibility of the government and the ruling party for the Eastar Jet layoffs also increased. This restructuring was the largest forced layoff in the unit’s workplaces after the Corona 19 crisis, and occurred in a situation where the employment crisis intensified.
As condemned public opinion grew, the leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon, criticized Lee Sang-jik and began to draw a line. The recently formed Democratic Party Ethics Inspectorate selected ideal positions as the number one investigation topic and the possibility of disciplinary action (including expulsion) prior to Chuseok was discussed. The National Tax Service has also launched an investigation into the tax evasion charges.
The government and the Democratic Party will be forced to worry that public opinion may deteriorate rapidly due to the suspicion of military preferential treatment, the son of Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae. The expulsion of Kim Hong-geol and the suspension of duties of Yoon Mi-hyang have also continued.
Avoidance of responsibility of the government and the ruling party
This does not mean that the government and the ruling party are truly committed to taking responsibility for the employment of workers. The Democratic Party’s pursuit of disciplinary action for the ideal position is to minimize allegations of Eastar Jet layoffs directed at the government, but is not intended to resolve the layoffs.
There have been several accusations against Lee Sang-job, but he has not made any progress for several months. Above all, the ruling party and government are ignoring workers’ demands to propose measures to lift layoffs and keep jobs. All the measures that the government has proposed is to try to speed up the time of payment of past due wages, which the government pays first for unpaid wages.
In fact, the Democratic Party took no action as Eastar Jet workers suffered wage arrears throughout the year and eventually saw large-scale layoffs. Even if the Democratic Party decides to expel Lee Sang-ho, his position as a member of the National Assembly will remain.
Eastar Jet workers have urged the government to propose measures, but the Moon Jae-in administration has always refused. Rather, the government supported restructuring and sales that worsened conditions and employment for workers. Jeju Air, which promoted the Eastar Jet acquisition, said it would provide 270 billion won for the acquisition, but has so far not provided a single penny to Eastar Jet workers. Despite government spending in support of airlines exceeded 3.2 billion won.
As such, the responsibility of the government and the ruling party in the dismissal of Eastar Jet is obvious, so those who have no interest in the lives of the workers, such as the power of the people or the Chosun Ilbo, have used the dismissal of Eastar Jet as a tool of political conflict to criticize the government. There is.
On these points, the Eastar Jet layoffs are plagued by problems such as the corruption of Lee Sang-Jik’s family, forcing workers to sacrifice themselves and avoiding the responsibility of the government and the ruling party. In fact, the government is also the one who has exposed the crisis by encouraging the establishment of low-cost airlines.
After all, the workers are not responsible for the crisis. There is no reason for those workers to suffer layoffs and back wages. The workers’ demands to “solve the situation without isolating the government and the Democratic Party” are justified.
Nationalization for job security
Workers can fight to the fullest by taking advantage of the current situation where the Eastar Jet layoffs have become a political problem and have affected the government and the ruling party. It is necessary to present an effective alternative to holding the government accountable for job security.
Now, the labor movement demands, above all, the disqualification of the members of the National Assembly, the return of property and punishment. It is appropriate that the Justice Party raised the level of criticism for depriving Lee Sang-jik of the status of a member of the National Assembly.
In addition, the public transport union and the Justice Party demand subsidies to maintain employment and support the liquidity fund. In this way, layoffs are withdrawn and work is maintained.
However, this may be a short-term countermeasure, but sustainability is difficult to ensure. This is because the job maintenance allowance is only a temporary measure that can only be received for a maximum of 8 months, and the Eastar Jet’s chances of rehabilitation are very low and job maintenance after that time is very uncertain.
Furthermore, it is not an effective alternative for the union and the Justice Party to provide security for retirement conditions, such as unpaid cyclical leave and partial exemption from unpaid wages. It is an important issue in solving the hardships in the lives of workers who have been experiencing pay cuts and back pay, and it is easy to increase the pressure of worsening conditions rather than win concessions from employers and the government.
Eastar Jet Pilots Union is also said to be considering a plan to directly apply for legal management through pay bonuses. Perhaps it is a reflection of the frustrating feeling that the answer will not come out after believing in irresponsible users and waiting.
However, when it comes to unions, this is not an “essential solution”. Furthermore, the business rehabilitation process under legal management is very risky as it presupposes a strong restructuring and is unlikely to fail.
There is an alternative. It is necessary to demand permanent nationalization to protect employment. The state is the only ability to maintain employment in companies with a high probability of bankruptcy, such as Eastar Jet. The government is also under pressure that it deserves that responsibility.
If you invest tens of billions of won, which is just a small part of the money the government is now investing in companies, you can nationalize Eastar Jet and keep workers’ jobs. It is only when the government is accountable and fights to enforce the needs of the workers.
