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[wylies99]

KORAIL issues warning ahead of strike tomorrow

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/


State-run railway operator KORAIL yesterday issued a stern warning against its unionized workers who plan to stage a massive walkout tomorrow.

"The demands of the labor union, such as rehiring some excused employees and withdrawing the corporation`s plan to develop a more flexible and effective operation scheme for its workers, have nothing to do with improving the current working environment for railway workers," said Shim Heok-yoon, acting president and vice president of KORAIL, during a press conference in Seoul. "If the union still plans to go ahead with the strike, we will have to take firm action that abides by law and order."

The labor union plans to take collective action at 9 a.m. tomorrow if management and the union fail to settle their dispute.

Unionized workers are fighting the government`s plan to privatize public corporations, which will require restructuring of its workforce, as well as urging the management to reemploy 47 workers who were laid off for their involvement in a strike in 2003.

The scheduled strike, however, comes at a difficult time for the corporation as its president Kang Keong-ho was recently arrested on alleged bribery charges. It also recorded an operation deficit of 640 billion won ($447.4 million) last year.

"It is now time for the management and labor union to come together to find ways to enhance its existing operation plan," Shim said.

"We should become a whole at a time of a global financial crisis and push for the advancement of the railway industry through gaining the public`s trust as a public entity."

In the meantime, KORAIL has prepared an alternative workforce plan to fill in the empty positions of unionized workers to minimize the impact of industrial action, its officials said. An essential minimum workforce will also be made available, following a set of new regulations on labor strikes.

The number of workers is expected to shrink to less than half of total workers, from the current 24,849 to 10,995, during the strike, officials said.

In the case of electric passenger trains, the corporation plans to maintain the operation of all trains during morning rush hour, 80 percent of trains during evening rush hour and 50 percent the rest of the day, KORAIL officials said.

By Cho Ji-hyun


([email protected])





2008.11.19

[sojourner1]

Look for decreased level of service. It's just such a ginormous crazy expensive monster they got on their hands.

[justaguy]

Take the bus.

[Bibbitybop]

Drive a motorcycle.