Subway, Train Strikes Averted
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Unionized subway and railway workers cancelled their plans to strike against layoffs Thursday after management agreed to consult with them before cutting jobs.
The management and union of Seoul Metro, which runs subway lines No. 1 to 4, reached an agreement about an hour ahead of the planned walkout at 4 a.m. The union of Korail, the operator of railroads, also decided to put its strike on hold.
According to the agreement, the union will accept the company's restructuring but the company will not promote it unilaterally. ``Management will consult with the union on restructuring and outsourcing issues, in order to minimize threats to workers' job status,'' they said.
Seoul Metro promised to raise employees' salary by 4.28 percent ― higher than the union's initial demand of 3 percent.
In the meantime, the union of Korail, which runs some subway lines in the metropolitan area near Seoul and inter-city trains including KTX, failed to reach an agreement despite nightlong negotiations, but the walkout was postponed.
Leaders of the union ordered employees to stay at work for the time being, saying they will soon decide whether to push ahead with the strike or to restart negotiations.
The union has demanded that management re-instate 46 workers who were fired for an illegal strike in 2003 and scrap its restructuring plan. The company proposed they delay negotiations until its new president is appointed after the previous head, Kang Kyung-ho, was arrested for bribery.
However, union members opposed this arrangement prompting union leaders to tender their resignation.