전국공무원노동조합과 전국교직원노동조합이 공무원·교사의 정치기본권 보장 입법을 위한 공식 논의기구(협의체) 구성에 야권과 합의했다고 24일 밝혔다. 양 노조는 이날 오후 2시 국회 소통관에서 기자회견을 열고, 협의체 구성 약속에 따라 위원장 단식·철야농성을 중단한다고 발표했다.

양 노조는 공무원·교사의 정치기본권 보장을 요구하며 국회 앞 천막농성 66일, 위원장 단식·철야농성 7일을 이어왔다. 헌법이 보장한 기본권임에도 국회에서 본격 논의가 이뤄지지 않았다는 점을 문제 삼아 투쟁을 확대해 왔다는 설명이다.

노조 측은 투쟁 과정에서 더불어민주당 김병기 원내대표가 농성장을 방문해 정치기본권 보장 입법을 위한 공식 논의기구 구성을 약속했고, 2026년 1월부터 협의체를 구성·운영하기로 하면서 단식 중단을 결정했다고 밝혔다. 협의체에는 민주당 원내수석부대표와 관련 상임위 간사 등 입법 논의를 주도할 인사들이 참여하는 방안이 거론됐다.

양 노조는 “이번 중단은 투쟁의 종료가 아니라 새로운 국면의 시작”이라며 협의체 구성과 법안 논의, 입법 절차 전 과정을 지켜보겠다고 했다. 이어 “약속을 믿되 백지수표는 주지 않는다”며, 합의가 실제 법 개정으로 이어지지 않을 경우 다시 행동에 나설 수 있다고 밝혔다.

양 노조는 공무원·교사의 정치적 표현의 자유와 정치기본권 전면 보장을 요구하며 “공무원과 교사가 침묵을 강요받는 사회는 민주사회가 아니다”라고 강조했다.

The National Government Employees' Union and the National Teachers' Union announced on the 24th that they have reached an agreement with the opposition party to establish an official discussion body (consultative body) for legislation to guarantee the political basic rights of government officials and teachers. The two unions held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall at 2 p.m. on that day and announced that they would suspend the chairman's hunger strike and overnight sit-in protest in accordance with the agreement to establish the consultative body.

Demanding the guarantee of the political basic rights of government officials and teachers, the two unions had been conducting a tent sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly for 66 days and the chairman's hunger strike and overnight sit-in protest for 7 days. They explained that despite being guaranteed by the constitution, the fact that substantive discussions had not taken place in the National Assembly had been the issue they expanded their struggle over.

According to the union, during the struggle, Kim Byung-gi, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, visited the protest site and promised to establish an official discussion body for legislation to guarantee political basic rights, and it was decided to suspend the hunger strike as they agreed to establish and operate the consultative body from January 2026 onwards. It was mentioned that the consultative body would involve key figures such as the Democratic Party's deputy floor leader and relevant standing committee secretaries to lead legislative discussions.

The unions stated, "This suspension marks the beginning of a new phase, not the end of the struggle," and expressed that they would monitor the establishment of the consultative body, bill discussions, and the entire legislative process. They further stated, "We trust the promise, but we will not give a blank check," and indicated that they could take action again if the agreement does not lead to actual legal amendments.

The unions demanded the full guarantee of the freedom of political expression and political basic rights of government officials and teachers, emphasizing, "A society where government officials and teachers are forced into silence is not a democratic society."