The Ministry of Education has ordered regional educational offices to take measures to return the full-time officials of the recently delegalized progressive teachers’ union to their respective schools within 30 days.

The government will take disciplinary measures including dismissal, to those who refuse to return within the given time.

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union was stripped of its 14 years of status as an industrial trade union on Thursday after it refused the government order to exclude fired teachers from membership.

The group said it will take collective leave to participate in a nationwide protest against the practice.

Starting next month, the ministry will also cut its subsidiary payment of 5.2 billion won ($4.8 million); ban legitimate negotiation rights with schools; and stop deducting withholding tax from teachers’ monthly income.

The 60,000-member group currently has 22 dismissed teachers.

(monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)