Labor & Employment Law

Sheet Metal Workers, Laborers Help Korean Workers Seeking Justice

By James Parks

Members of the Sheet Metal Workers and Laborers have joined forces with two South Korean unioins to bring a fugitive corporate executive to justice. 

About a year ago, Jeon Yoon-Soo, the former chairman of Sung Won Construction, fled to the United States to escape questioning by South Korean authorities about allegations of corruption, mismanagement and illegal transfer of funds abroad that led to the company filing for bankruptcy.

Jeon left behind more than 600 Sung Won workers who had not been paid for several months. The workers have filed claims for back wages amounting to $11 million. Sung Won, which is now in receivership, is a global company with projects in South Korea, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Seeking justice and the workers? back pay, Deok-Lai Lee, president of the Sung Won workers? union, and Yong-Kyu Lee, policy director of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions (KFCITU), traveled to New York City, where they found some strong allies among their U.S. construction trades brothers and sisters. Jeon reportedly is living comfortably in a wealthy neighborhood in New Jersey. 

Members of SMWIA Local 137 and LIUNA Local 79 came to the workers? aid. The South Korean government has asked for Jeon to be extradited back so he can face charges.

At Jeon?s extradition hearing last month, members of both locals were outside the building in the snow, carrying signs and passing out fliers explaining why Jeon should be deported. The hearing was abruptly postponed and rescheduled for March 18.

But no matter when another hearing is held, the members of locals 137 and 79 will be there. Says Paul Collins, business manager of Local 137:

We?re working-class people and we depend on that money each week. When someone steals that money, it?s criminal. That?s why we support the action here. This person should be deported?and put in jail.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 10, 2011 (boomark / email).