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Seoul Transportation Corporation's labor union demanded state subsidies and withdrawal of restructuring, and declared that they would go on strike on the 14th of next month if the government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government did not respond. The unions of five urban railroads, including Seoul, Busan and Daegu, are also discussing a solidarity strike, so there is a possibility that the strike will spread nationwide.
This is reporter Hwa Gang-yun.
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The core requirements of the union of the Seoul Transportation Corporation are to compensate for the loss caused by free transportation and to withdraw the large-scale restructuring promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Previously, Seoul Transportation Corporation announced a self-help plan to cut 10% of its total workforce after a deficit of more than 1 trillion won in the aftermath of the Corona 19 last year.
In response, the union is demanding that the government compensate for the loss instead of restructuring, saying that the government's public services, such as free rides for the elderly, have caused financial difficulties.
[Yang Kyung-soo/Chairman of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions: The government decides free rides for the elderly and disabled people. However, the responsibility is entirely passed on to the workers.] The
Seoul Transportation Corporation's union announced that they would go on strike on the 14th of next month, just before Chuseok, if the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the government do not comply with the demands.
The subway union strike is the first in five years since the strike against the performance-based pay system in 2016.
In addition to Seoul, subway unions in five regions including Busan, Incheon, Daegu and Daejeon are also planning to decide whether to strike in solidarity early next month after internal discussion.
However, the union plans to urge financial support through dialogue with the government and the city of Seoul prior to the strike.
The National Subway Union Council is scheduled to hold a number of one-man protests on the 26th at about 650 stations across the country, demanding the resolution of the financial crisis and the halt of restructuring.