[파이낸셜투데이] EI(세계교원단체총연맹, Education International) 사무총장 Fred VAN LEEUWEN(리우벤, General Secretary)은 지난 달 30일 이명박 대통령에게 시국선언 교사에 대한 징계와 항의서한을 전달하는 과정에서의 연행에 대해 항의하는 서한을 전달했다.
EI는 전세계 172개국 401개 회원단체, 2,900만 교사들이 가입해 있는 세계 최대의 교원단체로 한국을 두 번 방문하였으며, 지난 3월 9일부터 11일까지 한국을 방문하여 당시 정부교육정책의 전면전환을 촉구하며 단식중인 정진후 위원장 및 교육시민사회단체, 국회 교육상임위 위원 등을 면담한바 있다.
리우벤 사무총장은 항의서한에서 교사시국선언과 관련하여 88명을 해임, 정직 등 중징계하겠다는 조치와 1만 7천여 명의 교사들 징계하겠다는 한국정부의 처사에 깊은 우려를 표명하였다.
또한 한국정부가 전교조와의 대화에 소극적인 점과 16명의 지도부를 연행, 구금한 것에 대해서도 유감을 표명했다.
ILO 협약에 따르면 “노동조합과 노동조합 지도자들이 향유해야하는 표현의 자유는 그들이 정부의 경제, 사회 정책에 대하여 비판하는 경우에도 반드시 이런 표현의 자유는 보장되어져야한다”고 밝히며 한국의 교원노조 조합원들이 정부의 위협에 대한 두려움 없이, 집회의 자유와 의사 표현의 자유를 만끽하며, 누릴 수 있도록 한국 정부가 필요한 조치를 취해주길 요구했다.
이와 함께 현재 벌어지고 있는 상황에 대해 ILO에 보고하겠다는 입장을 명확히 밝혔다.
다음은 항의서한 원문
Mr. Lee Myung-bak
Office of the President
1 Cheongwadae-ro
Jongno-gu,
Seoul
Republic of Korea
Brussels, 30 June 2009
Dear Minister,
Education International the global union federation of teachers representing over 30 million members in 171 countries which has the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, KTU or JeonGyoJo, as one of its affiliates vehemently protests at the arrests and disciplinary measures taken against teachers and union members for criticising the Government education policy.
Together with the KTU, EI upholds the role of teachers in upgrading education and the need to ensure constant and open communication to support consensus building around reforms. We believe that these are also the fundamental values that underline your government's education policies.
Over the recent years, however, EI has protested a number of times against the detention ofKTU leaders who had taken part in peaceful union actions in support of quality public education. In 2007 and 2008, prison sentences against KTU members participating in union gatherings have been disproportionate.
Now, EI notes with grave concern the allegation that the government has decided to impose disciplinary measures on the teachers who endorsed a union statement requesting wide-scale reform guaranteeing the respect of human rights and the defence of quality public education. Ten KTU central executive committee members are to be dismissed, including KTU President Jeong Jin-hoo, while the other 78, including metropolitan and provincial KTU chapter heads and full-time unionists, are to be suspended. Your ministry also indicated that all the teachers who signed the KTU statement, this is 17,000 teachers in total, are likely to receive “light disciplinary sanctions, including cautions and warnings”.
In addition, on 29 June, a KTU delegation which peacefully marched to the presidential office to protest at the prosecution and disciplinary measures, was blocked the riot police. Sixteen KTU leaders were held into custody: the KTU President along with 15 KTU central executives.
EI is very concerned about the lack of social dialogue with the teacher union KTU and the attempts by the Korean authorities to restrain freedom of association by imprisoning teacher union leaders.
One of the fundamental principles of freedom of association is that workers should enjoy adequate protection against all acts of anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment, such as dismissal, demotion, transferor other prejudicial measures.
According to the ILO jurisprudence, “the freedom of expression which should be enjoyed by trade unions and their leaders should also be guaranteed when they wish to criticize the government's economic and social policy.” (Freedom of Association. Digest of decisions and principles of the Freedom of Association Committee of the Governing Body of the ILO, International Labour Office, fifth (revised) edition, Geneva, 2006, paragraph 157.)
EI respectfully asks the competent authorities to suspend all prejudicial measures against the KTU members and leaders and that the government takes the necessary steps to ensure that Korean teacher unionists may exercise their freedom of association rights, including the right to freedom of expression and right to assembly, without fear of intervention by the authorities.
Education International sincerely trusts that this message is one your Government can support.
EI also reminds your Excellency that in May 2007, the KTU and EI submitted a complaint to the ILO against the government of the Republic of Korea. EI and KTU will update this complaint with the recent developments.
Sincerely yours,
Fred van Leeuwen
General Secretary
cc: Prime Minister, Han Seung-Su, fax number is 82-2-2100-2110
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Ahn Byong-Man, fax number is 82-2-2100-6009
KFTA Chunkyojo KPU
PSI ITUC ICFTU/APRO
ILO
OECD Committee on Employment, Labour and Social Affairs.- Fax: +33 1 45.24.90.98