Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
Seoul Metro unions threaten indefinite strike from Nov. 25
The three unions at Seoul Metro have approved a strike plan over pay and staffing disputes.
The largest union says it will begin an indefinite strike on Nov.
25 if management and the Seoul metropolitan government do not change their positions.
It wants a 3.5 percent wage increase and opposes a plan to cut 2,212 jobs.
The union also wants 1,313 workers hired this year, state funding for public services and two-person teams for all field work.
Members of all three unions voted in favor of the strike plan, with support ranging from 80.8 to 94.9 percent.
A work-to-rule campaign could start Nov.
20 if the demands are not met.
Seoul Metro runs subway Lines 1-8 and parts of Line 9, so a strike could affect services across the network.
Seoul Metro’s largest union threatened to begin an indefinite general strike on Nov. 25 if its demands are not met.
The union is seeking a 3.5 percent wage increase, more hires and the scrapping of a planned 2,212-job cut.
It also wants state funding for public services and a requirement that field work be done in two-person teams.
Unions 2 and 3 also approved the strike plan.
Unions 1 and 2 plan a work-to-rule campaign from Nov. 20 if their demands are not met.
- Who
- Union 1, the largest of three labor unions at Seoul Metro, issued the warning. Unions 2 and 3 also approved the strike plan.
- What
- The unions plan to launch an indefinite general strike unless their demands are met.
- When
- The strike is planned to begin Nov. 25, 2026. A work-to-rule campaign is planned for Nov. 20.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- The unions are seeking wage increases, additional staff, an end to a planned job cut, state funding for public services and two-person field teams.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Union 1 threatened a general strike at a news conference after a meeting of senior union members.
Unions 1 and 2 plan to begin a work-to-rule campaign if their demands are not met.
The unions plan to begin an indefinite general strike if management and the Seoul metropolitan government do not change their positions.
- Wage demand
- 3.5 percent, reduced from an initial demand of 5.2 percent
- Planned job cuts
- 2,212
- Additional hires sought
- 1,313 workers this year
- Union 1 strike vote
- 6,715 of 7,782 participating members voted in favor
- Union 2 strike vote
- 80.8 percent of members voted in favor
- Union 3 strike vote
- 94.9 percent of members voted in favor