{
  "id": 648972,
  "title": "KakaoBank Union Begins Work-to-Rule Protest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/kakaobank-union-begins-work-to-rule-protest",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:20:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BusinessKorea",
    "slug": "businesskorea",
    "url": "https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=274693"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The KakaoBank labor union has initiated a work-to-rule protest, beginning at midnight on August 12. Members of the Kakao branch of the Korean Chemical, Textile and Food Workers Union will continue to perform their duties but strictly adhere to an average of 40 hours per week when calculating monthly working hours. This protest targets night work, overtime work, and holiday work.\n\nThe union's core objective is to disconnect from work outside designated hours. Once their working hours end, members will not respond to work orders from management via phone or messenger. This includes emergency system failures and demands for immediate action outside the collective agreement, which raises concerns about service operations. However, the union insists it will perform duties within designated hours while strictly following safety, security, and review procedures. A union official explained, \"It is not an abandonment of duties, but an action to adhere strictly to working hours and work procedures set by law exactly as they are.\"\n\nThis protest follows a one-day strike on July 31 where around 700 union employees took annual leave simultaneously. The labor and management of KakaoBank are now on parallel paths regarding the performance compensation plan.",
  "summary": "The KakaoBank labor union entered a work-to-rule struggle, completely refusing overtime and holiday work starting at 12:00 a.m. on August 12.Union members belonging to the Kakao branch of the Korean Chemical, Textile and Food Workers Union will perform their duties only within the scope of not excee",
  "key_points": [
    "KakaoBank labor union launches work-to-rule protest on August 12.",
    "Members limit work to 40 hours per week, avoid night and holiday work.",
    "Union aims to disconnect from work outside designated hours."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The work-to-rule protest by KakaoBank's union marks a stricter approach to working hours, likely disrupting the bank's operations and escalating tensions with management over compensation and work-life balance.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}