The display board at Seoul Station reads “suspended” on the second day of the indefinite strike by the Korean Railway Workers’ Union on the 6th.
Union Organizes Events to Solidify Membership Unity Across 155 Branches Nationwide.
As of 3 PM the previous day, the train operation rate was at 69.1% of normal levels.
On the fourth day of the total strike by the Korean Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU) on the 8th, the reduction in train operations is causing inconvenience for weekend travelers and disruptions in freight transportation. Since the day is a holiday, the union plans to hold events across its 155 branches to strengthen unity among its members, rather than conducting rallies or headquarter assemblies in the capital. This decision seems to take into account the recent large-scale protest in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, which involved about 11,000 union members late into the night.
As of 3 PM the previous day, train operation rates were 69.1% of normal levels. By train type, the rates were 68.9% for KTX, 58.3% for passenger trains (Saemaeul and Mugunghwa), 33.8% for freight trains, and 73.9% for metropolitan subways. At the same time, the strike participation rate was reported as 27.9% (7,441 participants out of 26,675 scheduled to work).
The union plans to continue its strike with safety as its top priority. They demand an increase in basic pay, resolution of unpaid wages, improvement in the bonus rate, additional recruitment, and a shift to a four-group, two-shift work system. The union began its total strike on the 5th at 9 AM. There has been no movement towards reopening negotiations between the union, the government, and Korail.
In response to increased long-distance train demand during the holiday, Korail is fully committed to implementing its emergency transport measures to minimize public inconvenience. They are mobilizing all available resources to ensure safety and manage congestion. Han Moon-hee, the President of Korail, stated, “As the strike continues for several days, the inconvenience for train passengers and damage to the logistics industry are increasing,” and emphasized, “We will mobilize all available resources to minimize passenger inconvenience and address freight transport disruptions.”