“Strike” on Subway Line 5~8

Labor Union of Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (subway line no.5 ~ line 8) decided to go on strike from 16th 4 A.M against extending subway service at night by Seoul and corporation, raising alarm in subway service.

However, despite decision of the labor union, it is expected that it won’t cause inconvenience to people, as many members of the union will abstain from the strike and the corporation will put 3,600 staff in response to the strike.

Corporation and Union negotiated for the fifth time in a small conference room at Yongdam-dong, Seongdong-gu from 5:00 P.M on 15th, regarding supplementing staff and payment following one hour extension, however, it failed to break the deadlock.

Labor and management agreed to the extra payment according to law and on inquiring with an outsourcing institute about safety measures like adjusting interval of trains, however, they didn’t narrow gap related to supplementing staff for extension of train service.

The Corporation stated clearly that it would not accept demand of union such as adequate management of 14 members of union, who were taken to the police station while demonstrating against extension of service and inducement of fixed off day, one day a month, on 9th.

Following this, leaders of labor union and 500 members declared to quit work fully from 16th 4:00 A.M, starting the strike from Wangsibri station, subway no.5 line at 9:00 P.M.

Chief of labor union, Heo-in, emphasized, “Strike is an inevitable choice to confront Seoul City and the Corporation, which enforced extension of night service one-sidedly ignoring labor law like the Labor Standard Act.”

However, labor union of H.Q of crew and service, among four H.Q such as service, crew, train and engineering, made terms for supplementing staff, etc, with management, therefore, union members aren’t expected to be much.

On the other hand, Seoul City and the Corporation announced emergent measures for transportation on 15th, taking caution against strike.

Corporation ensured total 3,610 staff for emergency such as 214 engine drivers, 1,410 support staff of service, 890 engineers, etc.

Seoul City decided to reduce interval of sub trains, putting spare trains in section of Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation (subway no.1 line~4 line) and to extend line and service time of local and town buses, in rush hour. If needed, it plans to withdraw absence of private taxis and operate rented buses temporarily.

Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation Union planned to go on a strike for the first time after its foundation in 1994 and it is 2 years and 8 months since Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation carried out strike for one week in April 1999.

Kyung-Joon Chung Ji-Young Chae news91@donga.com yourcat@donga.com