Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gravity Wins]

Anyone in the know about this? Has the union striked before? I have a trip booked on the KTX in 10 days, and am really hoping they figure their shit out before Christmas holidays.


Railway workers go on strike over affiliate plan

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/131208/railway-workers-go-strike-over-affiliate-plan-0

SEOUL, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- Unionized rail workers launched a strike Monday in protest against a move they suspect is the first step to privatizing the state-run railway operator, disrupting the nation's train services considerably.

The strike began at 9 a.m. as the labor and management failed to narrow their differences on the operation of an envisioned new affiliate of Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) to be charged with operating a separate bullet train service by 2016.

KORAIL workers have criticized the planned establishment of the affiliate as a "thinly veiled ploy" to privatize the state-run company, which they say could result in mass layoffs and fare hikes.

The company has denied the claim, saying the new unit will be 41 percent and 59 percent owned by KORAIL and state-run investors, respectively, and that private firms will never be allowed to buy stakes in it.

Their strike, the first in four years, comes a day before the board of the state-run railway operator meets to discuss details of the affiliate plan.

"This strike was an inescapable choice to defend the railway service of the people," Kim Myung-hwan, chairman of the Korean Railway Workers' Union, said in a statement. "Please understand the rail workers struggling to prevent the privatization of the state railway system opposed by a majority of the people even if stopped trains would cause inconvenience to you."

The union said it plans to hold a rally in front of the KORAIL headquarters in Seoul Tuesday to demand an immediate halt to the board meeting and denounce the government and KORAIL.

The union, however, said it will guarantee essential and minimum services by leaving 8,500 unionists.

KORAIL said it will mobilize all potential manpower in and outside the company, including non-union members and workers from the military and subcontractors, to reduce service disruption.

Despite the strike, the company said, the KTX bullet trains as well as subways and commuter trains in the capital area will be operated normally while Saemaeul and Mugunghwa train services will be kept at 60 percent of the normal level. Cargo train services will be reduced by 36 percent from the normal, the company said.

But further disruption to passenger and freight train services appears inevitable if the strike becomes protracted.

"We did our best till the last minute to escape this extreme situation but failed to make a breakthrough," Choi Yeon-hye, president of KORAIL, said of the strike. "We will minimize the people's inconveniences from the strike by turning into an emergency transportation system with the use of essential manpower and substitute workers."

The rail company said they filed complaints against 100 strike leaders around the country with the police as soon as they carried out the threatened measure.

Calling it an "illegal strike," the company threatened disciplinary measures against striking unionists refusing to return to work.

<All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>

[CentralCali]

"Striked"? Um, no. However, what you quoted answers the question of when the union last went on strike.

[DaeguNL]

I had to wait an extra 17 minutes for the train to come the other day, the announcement said the trains were delayed because of the strike.

[SeoulNate]

they were marching in Myeongdong last month to protest this, guess it didnt help

[Gravity Wins]