Workbear재주넘는곰
대법원 91누5204

Revocation of Reexamination Ruling on Remedy for Unfair Labor Practice (부당노동행위구제재심판정취소)부당노동행위구제재심판정취소

Decided1992. 01. 21. Court대법원Worker(s) won
AI-generated English translation (summary, key points, decision summary and full text) for reference only — not an official translation and without legal effect. The Korean original below is authoritative.
AI Easy read — AI summary of this decision
AI-generated summary for reference only — the Korean original below is authoritative.

During a strike (쟁의행위) organized by a janitorial workers' union, several union members were dismissed for refusing an order to transfer to a different job position. The Supreme Court held that the strike was lawful and that the dismissals, based on the workers' refusal of the transfer order, constituted an unfair labor practice (부당노동행위). The Court further clarified that even if a strike pursues multiple objectives, it remains lawful as long as its primary purpose is legitimate, and that a unilateral transfer order issued to an employee whose workplace location was specifically designated exceeds the employer's legitimate scope of personnel authority.

Key takeaways
  • CaseUnion members of a janitorial workers' union were dismissed for refusing a transfer order during a strike aimed at improving working conditions.
  • OutcomeThe Supreme Court ruled the strike lawful and found the unilateral transfer order improper given the employees' fixed workplace location, making the resulting dismissals unfair.
  • LessonA strike remains lawful if its main purpose is improving working conditions, and employers cannot unilaterally transfer employees whose workplace has been specifically designated without their consent.
Issues
  • What are the criteria for determining the legality of a strike (쟁의행위)?
  • How should legality be assessed when a strike pursues multiple objectives?
  • What are the limits on an employer's authority to issue transfer or reassignment orders (전직·전보명령권)?
  • Is dismissal based on an employee's refusal of a transfer order that itself constitutes an unfair labor practice lawful?
Key reasoning

The Court found that the primary purpose of the strike was to improve working conditions, while the secondary goal of restoring employees to civil servant status was merely incidental; therefore, the strike as a whole was lawful. Because the workers' place of employment had been specifically designated under their employment terms, the employer could not unilaterally issue a transfer order without their consent. Such a transfer order exceeded the employer's legitimate exercise of personnel authority (인사권) and itself constituted an unfair labor practice. Consequently, dismissing the workers for refusing to comply with an unlawful transfer order amounted to unfair dismissal (부당해고).

Summary of Decision (English, AI translation)

[1] In order for a labor dispute action to be legitimate, first, in relation to collective bargaining, it must have a legitimate purpose aimed at maintaining or improving working conditions; second, its timing and procedure must be legitimate in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations; and third, its methods and manner must fall within a legitimate scope that does not involve violence or destructive acts or other conduct of a highly antisocial nature.

[2] Where a labor dispute action pursues multiple purposes and some of them are not legitimate, the propriety of the purpose of the dispute action should be judged based on the propriety of the primary or true purpose, and where it is recognized that the dispute action would not have been undertaken if the unjustified demands had been excluded, the entire dispute action must be deemed to lack legitimacy.

[3] In light of the fact that the labor union had continuously demanded improvements in working conditions, such as wage increases, from the company, and that serious negotiations between labor and management had been conducted over a long period regarding those demands, even though the labor union, on the other hand, had petitioned an outside agency requesting that the status of its members, who were cleaning workers, be restored to that of employed public officials, and the union members wore ribbons bearing the same content during the dispute period, this should be regarded as merely an external activity or a subsidiary purpose of the dispute action, not its direct and primary purpose. Therefore, this cannot render the dispute action unjustified. Furthermore, even if the labor union was making demands that the company could not accept, this is a matter to be adjusted at the stage of collective bargaining, and it cannot be immediately interpreted that the purpose of the dispute action was unjustified merely because the union side made excessive demands. [Case example]

[4] Since reassignment or transfer of an employee in principle falls within the authority of the employer (the person with personnel authority), considerable discretion must be recognized for the employer within the scope necessary for business operations; however, such reassignment or transfer is not permitted where special circumstances exist, such as where it violates Article 27(1) or Article 105 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법) or constitutes an abuse of rights. Furthermore, where the place of work is specified under the labor contract, an order of reassignment or transfer that changes it requires the employee's consent.

[5] Where an order was issued to reassign an employee, a cleaning worker whose place of work under the labor contract was designated as the National Assembly site, to another location, this, although it was a promotion, was carried out against the employee's will and constitutes an abuse of personnel authority. In light of the timing and circumstances surrounding the issuance of the reassignment order, the reassignment order should be regarded not as a legitimate exercise of personnel authority but as an unfavorable disposition taken against the employee on account of his labor union activities, constituting an unfair labor practice. Accordingly, the dismissal based on his refusal to comply with the order also lacks legitimacy. [Case example]

Full text (English, AI translation) 7,181 chars

[Plaintiff, Appellant] Sewang Jinheung Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Litigation Representative: Cheongjo Law Firm, Attorneys Kang Ki-won and 3 others)
[Defendant, Appellee] Chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission
[Defendant's Assistant Intervenors] Defendant's Assistant Intervenor 1 and 5 others
[Original Judgment] Seoul High Court, Decision of May 10, 1991, Case No. 90Gu9508

[Order]

The appeal is dismissed.
The costs of the appeal are to be borne by the Plaintiff.

[Reasoning]

The grounds of appeal are examined.

1. Examining the reasoning of the original judgment in light of the record, the lower court's fact-finding is acceptable, and it cannot be said that there was any illegality therein due to insufficient deliberation or violation of the rules of evidence. Given that the facts are as found by the lower court, the lower court's determination that the Plaintiff's dismissal of the Defendant's Assistant Intervenor (hereinafter referred to as the "Intervenor") and Non-parties 1, 2, 3, and 4 constitutes unfair dismissal or an unfair labor practice is also acceptable.

2. In order for an industrial action (collective labor dispute action) to be legitimate, firstly, it must have a legitimate purpose, in that it is aimed at maintaining or improving working conditions in connection with collective bargaining; secondly, its timing and procedures must be legitimate, in accordance with the provisions of statutes; and thirdly, its methods and manner must fall within a legitimate scope, that is, they must not involve violence or destructive acts or other acts of a highly anti-social nature (see this Court's Decision 90Nu4006, rendered May 14, 1991). In light of the facts found by the lower court, the industrial action of the Sewang Jinheung Enterprise Sanitation Management Labor Union in this case must be regarded as legitimate in terms of its purpose, timing, procedures, and methods.

3. Furthermore, where a single industrial action pursues multiple objectives and some of them are not legitimate, the legitimacy of the objective of the industrial action should be determined based on the propriety of the primary or genuine objective; and where it is found that the industrial action would not have been undertaken had the illegitimate demand been excluded, the entire industrial action must be regarded as lacking legitimacy. According to the record, in this case, while the above labor union was conducting collective bargaining with the Plaintiff company, it also continuously petitioned the President, the National Assembly, political parties, media organizations, etc., to the effect of requesting that the status of janitorial workers working at the National Assembly be restored to that of employed civil servants of the National Assembly, and it can be acknowledged that during the period of the industrial action, the workers wore ribbons stating "Restore us to employed status." However, as the lower court lawfully found, the above labor union continuously made demands to the Plaintiff company for improvement of working conditions, including wage increases, and in light of the fact that serious negotiations between labor and management had been conducted over a long period regarding such demands, the above labor union's movement to be restored to employed civil servant status must be regarded as merely an external activity or a secondary objective of the industrial action, and not the direct and primary objective of the industrial action in this case. Therefore, this cannot render the industrial action in this case illegitimate. Even if the above labor union made demands that the Plaintiff company could not accept, this is a matter to be adjusted at the stage of collective bargaining, and the mere fact that the labor union side made excessive demands cannot immediately be interpreted as rendering the purpose of the industrial action illegitimate. Furthermore, it cannot be said that the Plaintiff company's dismissal of the Intervenors constitutes self-defense or self-help, and this dismissal cannot be deemed legitimate.

4. A reassignment or transfer of an employee is, in principle, a matter within the authority of the employer (the person with authority over personnel matters), and therefore considerable discretion must be recognized for the employer within the scope necessary for business operations. However, where there are special circumstances such as where the reassignment or transfer violates Article 27, Paragraph 1 or Article 105 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법) or constitutes an abuse of rights, it shall not be permitted (see this Court's Decision 90Dakka27389, rendered February 22, 1991). Furthermore, where the place of work is specified in the employment contract, an order of reassignment or transfer that changes this requires the consent of the employee. In this case, the Plaintiff company's order reassigning Intervenor ○○○, whose place of work under the employment contract was designated as the National Assembly site, to another location—although this was a promotion—was carried out against his will and thus constitutes an abuse of the authority over personnel matters. Moreover, in light of the fact that the timing of the reassignment order against the above Intervenor occurred at a time when the labor dispute between labor and management was at its height; the fact that the Plaintiff company, as the employer, dismissed only the union officers who led the labor union's activities by means of refusing to renew their contracts, while at the same time reassigning the above Intervenor to a place where he could not engage in labor union activities, thereby taking a disadvantageous measure with respect to union activities; and the fact that the above reassignment order exceeded the scope of normal personnel authority in business operations—it must be held that the above reassignment order constitutes an unfair labor practice, being a disadvantageous disposition taken against the above Intervenor because of his labor union activities, rather than a legitimate exercise of personnel authority. Accordingly, the dismissal on the ground of his refusal of this order also cannot be deemed legitimate.

5. According to the record in this case, even taking into account, as of the time of the retrial determination in this case, the circumstances argued by the Plaintiff that arose after the Intervenor and the non-parties were dismissed, the dismissal carried out by the Plaintiff cannot be justified, and it cannot be recognized that the retrial determination made by the Defendant in this case is unlawful.
Although the reasoning set forth by the lower court on this point cannot be said to be appropriate, this does not affect the outcome of this case.
Accordingly, the arguments disputing the matter from the opposing position are without merit.

Therefore, the appeal is dismissed, and the costs of the appeal are to be borne by the losing party. This judgment is rendered as stated in the Order by the unanimous opinion of the Justices participating in the adjudication.

Supreme Court Justice Lee Hoe-chang (Presiding Justice), Lee Jae-seong, Bae Man-woon, Kim Seok-su

【판결요지】

가. 쟁의행위가 정당성을 갖추기 위하여는 우선 단체교섭과 관련하여 근로조건의 유지, 개선 등을 목적으로 하는 것으로서 그 목적이 정당하여야 하고, 그 시기와 절차가 법령의 규정에 따른 것으로서 정당하여야 하며, 또 그 방법과 태양이 폭력이나 파괴행위를 수반하거나 기타 고도의 반사회성을 띤 행위가 아닌 정당한 범위 내의 것이어야 한다.

나. 쟁의행위에서 추구되는 목적이 여러 가지이고 그 중 일부가 정당하지 못한 경우에는 주된 목적 내지 진정한 목적의 당부에 의하여 그 쟁의목적의 당부를 판단하여야 할 것이고, 부당한 요구사항을 뺐더라면 쟁의행위를 하지 않았을 것이라고 인정되는 경우에는 그 쟁의행위 전체가 정당성을 갖지 못한다고 보아야 할 것이다.

다. 노동조합이 회사에 대하여 임금인상 등 근로조건의 개선을 위한 요구를 계속하였고, 또 그에 관하여 노사간에 진지한 교섭을 장기간에 걸쳐 벌여 온 점에 비추어 보면, 노동조합이 다른 한편으로 조합원인 미화원들의 신분을 고용직 공무원으로 환원되도록 하여 달라고 외부기관에 진정하고 조합원들이 쟁의기간 중 같은 내용이 적힌 리본을 착용한 바 있어도 이는 대외적 활동이거나 쟁의행위의 부차적 목적에 지나지 아니하고 쟁의행위의 직접적이고 주된 목적은 아니라고 보아야 할 것이므로 이 때문에 쟁의행위가 부당한 것으로 된다고 할 수 없고, 또 노동조합이 회사로서는 수용할 수 없는 요구를 하고 있었다고 하더라도 이는 단체교섭의 단계에서 조정할 문제이지 노동조합측으로부터 과다한 요구가 있었다고 하여 막바로 그 쟁의행위의 목적이 부당한 것이라고 해석할 수는 없다고 한 사례.

라. 근로자에 대한 전직이나 전보는 원칙적으로 사용자(인사권자)의 권한에 속하므로 업무상 필요한 범위 안에서는 상당한 재량을 사용자에게 인정하여야 할 것이나, 그것이 근로기준법 제27조 제1항 또는 제105조에 위반하거나 권리남용에 해당하는 등 특별한 사정이 있는 경우에는 허용되지 않는다고 할 것이고 또 근로계약상 근로의 장소가 특정되어 있는 경우에 이를 변경하는 전직이나 전보명령을 하려면 근로자의 동의가 있어야 한다.

마. 근로계약상 근로의 장소가 국회현장으로 되어 있는 미화원인 근로자를 다른 곳으로 전직명령한 것은 비록 승진이기는 하나 근로자의 의사에 반하여 이루어진 것으로서 인사권의 남용에 해당하는 점, 전직명령이 이루어진 시기와 그 경과 등에 비추어 그 전직명령은 정당한 인사권의 행사라기보다는 근로자의 노동조합 활동을 이유로 그에 대하여 한 불이익처분으로서 부당노동행위에 해당한다고 보아야 하며 따라서 이를 거부한 것을 이유로 한 해고도 정당성을 갖지 못한다고 한 사례.

【참조조문】

가.나.다. 노동조합법 제2조, 노동쟁의조정법 제3조 / 라.마. 근로기준법 제27조 제1항 / 마. 노동조합법 제39조

【참조판례】

가. 대법원 1990.10.12. 선고 90도1431 판결(공1990,2334), 1991.5.14. 선고 90누4006 판결(공1991,1654), 1991.5.24. 선고 91도324 판결(공1991,1818) / 라. 대법원 1991.2.22. 선고 90다카27389 판결(공1991,1067), 1991.9.24. 선고 90다12366 판결(공1991,2592), 1991.10.25. 선고 90다20428 판결(공1991,2817)

【주문】·【이유】 전문 2,553자 · 펼쳐 보기

【원고, 상고인】 세왕진흥기업주식회사 (소송대리인 청조법무법인 담당변호사 강기원 외 3인)

【피고, 피상고인】 중앙노동위원회위원장

【피고보조참가인】 피고보조참가인 1 외 5인

【원심판결】 서울고등법원 1991.5.10. 선고 90구9508 판결

【주 문】

상고를 기각한다.

상고비용은 원고의 부담으로 한다.

【이 유】 상고이유를 본다.

1. 원심판결의 이유를 기록에 비추어 보면 원심의 사실인정은 수긍이 가고, 거기에 심리를 미진하거나 채증법칙을 어긴 위법이 있다고 할 수 없고, 사실관계가 원심이 인정한 바와 같다면 원고가 피고보조참가인(이하 참가인이라고 한다) 및 소외 1, 소외 2, 소외 3, 소외 4들을 해고한 것은 부당해고 또는 부당노동행위에 해당한다는 원심의 판단도 수긍이 된다.

2. 쟁의행위가 정당성을 갖추기 위하여는 우선 단체교섭과 관련하여 근로조건의 유지, 개선 등을 목적으로 하는 것으로서 그 목적이 정당하여야 하고, 그 시기와 절차가 법령의 규정에 따른 것으로서 정당하여야 하며, 또 그 방법과 태양이 폭력이나 파괴행위를 수반하거나 기타 고도의 반사회성을 띤 행위가 아닌 정당한 범위내의 것이어야 하는바(당원 1991. 5. 14. 선고 90누4006 판결 참조), 원심이 인정한 사실관계에 비추어 보면 세왕진흥기업 위생관리노동조합의 이 사건 쟁의행위는 그 목적, 시기와 절차방법 등에서 정당한 것이었다고 보아야 할 것이다.

3. 그리고 하나의 쟁의행위에서 추구되는 목적이 여러 가지이고 그중 일부가 정당하지 못한 경우에는 주된 목적 내지 진정한 목적의 당부에 의하여 그 쟁의목적의 당부를 판단하여야 할 것이고, 부당한 요구사항을 뺏더라면 쟁의행위를 하지 않았을 것이라고 인정되는 경우에는 그 쟁의행위 전체가 정당성을 갖지 못한다고 보아야 할 것인바, 기록에 의하면 이 사건에서 위 노동조합은 원고 회사와 단체교섭을 진행하면서, 다른 한편으로는 국회에서 근무하는 미화원들의 신분을 국회고용직 공무원으로 환원되도록 하여 달라는 취지의 진정을 대통령, 국회, 정당 및 언론기관 등에 계속하였고, 쟁의기간 중 "고용직으로 환원하라"는 리본을 착용한 사실은 인정할 수 있다 할 것이나, 원심이 적법하게 인정한 바와 같이 위 노동조합은 원고 회사에 대하여 임금인상 등 근로조건의 개선을 위한 요구를 계속하였고, 또 그에 관하여 노사간에 진지한 교섭을 장기간에 걸쳐 벌여 온 점에 비추어 보면, 위 노동조합의 고용직 공무원에로의 환원운동은 대외적 활동이거나 쟁의행위의 부차적 목적에 지나지 아니하고 이 사건 쟁의행위의 직접적이고 주된 목적은 아니라고 보아야 할 것이므로 이 때문에 이 사건의 쟁의행위가 부당한 것으로 된다고 할 수 없고, 위 노동조합이 원고 회사로서는 수용할 수 없는 요구를 하고 있었다고 하더라도 이는 단체교섭의 단계에서 조정할 문제이지 노동조합측으로부터 과다한 요구가 있었다고 하여 막바로 그 쟁의행위의 목적이 부당한 것이라고 해석할 수는 없고, 원고 회사가 참가인들을 해고한 것이 정당방위나 자구행위에 해당한다고 할 수 없으며, 이 해고가 정당하다고 할 수 없다.

4. 근로자에 대한 전직이나 전보는 원칙적으로 사용자(인사권자)의 권한에 속하므로 업무상 필요한 범위안에서는 상당한 재량을 사용자에게 인정하여야 할 것이나, 그것이 근로기준법 제27조 제1항 또는 제105조에 위반하거나 권리남용에 해당하는 등 특별한 사정이 있는 경우에는 허용되지 않는다고 할 것이고(당원1991.2.22. 선고 90다카27389 판결 참조), 또 근로계약상 근로의 장소가 특정되어 있는 경우에 이를 변경하는 전직이나 전보명령을 하려면 근로자의 동의가 있어야 할 것인데, 이 사건에서 원고 회사가 근로계약상 근무장소가 국회현장으로 되어 있는 참가인 ○○○을 다른 곳으로 전직명령한 것은 이것이 승진이기는 하나 그의 의사에 반하여 이루어진 것으로서 인사권의 남용에 해당된다고 할 것이고, 한편 위 참가인에 대한 전직명령의 시기가 노사 간의 노동쟁의가 한창인 무렵에 이루어진 점, 사용자인 원고 회사가 노동조합의 활동을 주도한 조합간부들만을 재계약포기의 방법으로 해고함과 동시에 위 참가인에 대하여는 노동조합활동을 할 수 없는 곳으로 전직시킴으로써 조합활동상 불리한 조치를 한 점, 위 전직명령이 업무상의 정상적인 인사권의 범위를 벗어난 것인 점 등에 비추어 보면 위 전직명령은 정당한 인사권의 행사라기보다는 위 참가인의 노동조합활동을 이유로 그에 대하여 한 불이익처분으로서 부당노동행위에 해당한다고 보아야 하고, 따라서 이를 거부한 것을 이유로 한 해고도 정당성을 갖지 못한다고 할 것이다.

5. 이 사건 기록에 의하면 이 사건 재심판정 당시를 기준으로 하여, 참가인이나 소외인들이 해고된 후의 소론의 사정을 참작한다 하더라도 원고가 한 해고가 정당화될 수 없고, 피고가 한 이 사건 재심판정이 위법한 것이라고 인정할 수 없다.

원심의 이 부분의 설시이유가 적절하다고 할 수 없으나 이 사건 결과에 영향이 없다.

따라서 반대의 입장에서 다투는 논지는 이유가 없다.

그러므로 상고를 기각하고, 상고비용은 패소자의 부담으로 하여 관여 법관의 일치된 의견으로 주문과 같이 판결한다.

대법관 이회창(재판장) 이재성 배만운 김석수

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