Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

Link: http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20040713/320000000020040713203640E7.html

Subway Workers Threaten \'Legal Struggle\' Ahead of Strike

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of subway workers in Seoul Tuesday threatened to stage a \"legal struggle\" within days unless the Seoul Metropolitan Government increases the workforce so that they can begin the five-day workweek guaranteed by law that took effect on July 1.

About 4,300 unionized subway workers got together at a subway train depot in central Seoul and at the World Cup Stadium in western Seoul and said they will begin striking on July 21 as scheduled if the Seoul city government does not agree to increase manpower needed for the five-day workweek.

On July 7, more than 69 percent, or around 12,000, members of the Alliance of Korean Railroad Workers\' Unions voted to stage a strike.

The alliance, a member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, consists of all major railway and subway worker unions in the cities of Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Incheon and Daegu.

The unionized subway workers denounced the city government for trying to avoid direct negotiations with the union and asking the government to mediate.

\"The Seoul city government asked the central government to meddle in the negotiations without showing a resolution to resolve it through bilateral negotiations,\" a spokesman for the unionized workers said.

\"We will stage a legal struggle from July 15 to pressure the city government,\" the spokesman said.

For this, the union members will wear their own clothes to work instead of their uniforms and strictly observe labor and operation-related regulations at the cost of delayed operation of trains.

This type of struggle has often been used by subway workers as a means to pressure management, since a strict application of regulations requires a large number of additional workers.

The union demanded 7,100 more workers for the introduction of the five-day workweek without any deterioration in working conditions.

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[Hollywoodaction]

Yeah, I always find it ironic that sticking to a safe speed is used as a form of protest.

[nateyb]

Man, I had the hassle of going through the KorAm Strike... Thanks guys.