Union demands promotion system overhaul, safety staffing boost

A freight train moves through Obong Station in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. [Yonhap]
A freight train moves through Obong Station in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. [Yonhap]

The Korean Railway Workers' Union has warned of a general strike in December after wage and collective bargaining talks broke down. The union plans to push ahead with measures including refusing holiday work as it presses demands for an overhaul of the promotion system and expanded safety staffing.

According to the union Thursday, a strike authorization vote held since Monday drew 21,634 participants out of 24,691 registered members — a turnout of 87.6 percent — with 16,783 voting in favor, representing 77.58 percent of those who voted and 67.97 percent of the total membership.

The union held its third round of main negotiations on Oct. 14, but declared a labor dispute at an emergency delegates' assembly the following day after talks collapsed. The strike authorization vote is the procedure by which members directly decide whether to launch industrial action. A majority of all registered members must vote in favor for the motion to pass, with abstentions counted as votes against.

The union is demanding improvements to the promotion system and an increase in safety personnel. "Promotions are currently being made unfairly, with frontline workers shut out of the process," a union official said. "Promotion opportunities are concentrated at headquarters and among managers, while workers on the ground are being passed over."

The official added that the shortage of safety workers on the railway was already serious, and that even the corporation acknowledged the need to bring in more staff. "But the problem remains unsolved because government controls on staffing are standing in the way," the official said.

With the strike authorization vote passed, the union plans to have all members wear protest vests and display campaign materials, conduct safety-focused operations and refuse holiday work.

If negotiations show no progress, the union said it will launch an all-out campaign that includes a general strike in December.


hss@heraldcorp.com