By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Hospital workers accepted management’s proposal on better working conditions on Tuesday, ending their 13-day strike and averting a total disruption to the nation’s medical services.

Patients and health authorities breathed a sigh of relief after about 9,000 striking workers reached an agreement with hospital managers on working hours and day-offs, which will be implemented next month when a five-day workweek system is introduced.

The agreement has significant implications for other labor unions which are planning to go on strike later this month and next month to demand higher wages and better working conditions.

Sources expected that other labor unions will seek to compromise with employers rather than stage massive strikes following the end of hospital workers’ walkout.

The unionized hospital workers and employers sat at a negotiation table with mediation by the National Labor Relations Commission at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The negotiation was on the verge of failing at 5:50 a.m. when the management declared a breakdown of the talks. However, the union said one hour later it would accept the employers’ proposal, ending 13-days of patients’ inconvenience and outcries.

With a five-day workweek of 40 working hours as a basic condition, they agreed that the employees work on every other Saturday morning for one year to maintain medical services for outpatients. The two sides will have talks on the matter again after the one-year of implementation.

Regarding menstrual leave, the management will not pay women workers for the leave anymore, but will compensate for the loss of salary with a health allowance. The amount of the allowance will be one thirtieth of their monthly pay.

Union members and employers also agreed to increase wages by 2 percent and cooperate in abolishing discrimination against day laborers and part-timers.

On June 16 when taxi drivers’ union lined up with hospital workers, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of two umbrella labor groups, had threatened to stage massive walkouts on June 29 unless managements and the government accept labor demands.

Metal workers, including unionists from Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, and social service workers also threatened to lay down their tools at the end of this month.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr