Lay Buddhists Join Korean Labor Union

October 2, 2005

Source: Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200510/kt2005100219045911970.htm

On October 2, 2005 the Korea Times reported, "Lay Buddhists working at a local temple joined an umbrella union group in the latest move by religious people to lean on collective action for better working conditions. Around 30 'Bodhisattvas' who work as security guards, parking agents and cooks at Samkwang Temple in the southern port city of Pusan have been in conflict with the temple management, calling for sincere negotiations since they joined the Pusan branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) at the end of August... They gathered on Saturday in front of the temple gates along with a dozen KCTU activists with a variety of picket signs and banners with such messages as 'Stop Unfair Labor' and 'Be Sincere in Negotiations.'"