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| U.S. Army Garrison Daegu / Korea Times file |
By Kang Seung-woo
Unpaid leave for Korean staff at U.S. military bases here is looming large as the ongoing round of defense-cost sharing talks between Korea and the United States is likely to end without any progress.
In response to the potential furlough, the USFK Korean Employees Union is seeking countermeasures, including holding a press conference in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Jeong Eun-bo, Korea's chief negotiator for the Special Measure Agreement (SMA), sat down with his U.S. counterpart James DeHart in Los Angeles for two days from Tuesday, but they failed to narrow their differences on Seoul's share of costs for stationing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). The SMA determines the amount of money Korea will contribute toward the costs for the USFK.
Although the scheduled two-day talks ended, an additional session will be held Thursday before the Korean team's departure for Seoul, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday.
Korea's SMA contributions are used to cover the wages of 9,000 Korean workers at U.S. military bases as well as payment for construction projects and logistical support.
Washington has warned of furloughs for most Korean workers starting April 1, if an agreement is not made.
The USFK is set to fund only key positions that provide services related to life, health, safety and readiness, and it is currently prioritizing what services those workers provide, according to the USFK Korean Employees Union.
"The USFK is expected to inform us of who are mission-critical and who are not next week," Son Gi-o, the union's secretary-general, told The Korea Times.
"The USFK said it would pay for those engaged in the key positions, but almost all of us are doing such jobs. I am wondering what kind of criteria they are using."
Regarding some media reports that 6,000 of the 9,000 Korean staff will be forced into taking unpaid leave, Son said nothing has been decided yet.
Considering the seriousness of the wage issue, the Korean government has suggested that the allies conclude a deal on personnel expenditures first, but the U.S. government has rejected the proposal, saying such a partial agreement could distract them from reaching a comprehensive SMA.
To protest the U.S. government's opposition to the partial agreement, the union plans to hold a press conference in front of the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun ― one of the few options that the union can adopt.
"Practically, we have few available measures as we are not allowed to take collective action, so we will hold a press conference," Son said, adding that some 50 people from the union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions are expected to participate.
The union secretary-general said the USFK is also concerned of possible fallout from a potential furlough, as evidenced by USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams saying the loss of Korean staff will have an impact on readiness, but it has no choice but to follow the order from the U.S. government.
"We have decided to hold the event in front of the U.S. Embassy because the U.S. government, not the USFK, is mainly responsible for the current situation. In fact, the two countries do not have different opinions on the amount of personnel expenditures for Korean staff, so the personnel expenditure issue does not affect the entire SMA negotiations. But the U.S. is not accepting the demand for resolving the issue first. All responsibilities lie on the U.S. side," he said.
Saying the U.S. is leveraging the Korean workers, Son said, "The USFK can also fall victim to the failed SMA."
According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump wants Korea to pay nearly $4 billion (5 trillion won) annually ― a fourfold increase from the amount paid last year ― but the Korean government is maintaining its offer of 1.2 trillion won.
