Seoul Metro Labor Union: "Strike If Talks Make No Progress"

Declare labor dispute... Vote among all union members Nov. 2-5
Demands 3.5% wage increase, withdrawal of plan to cut 2,212 jobs, and more.

The Seoul Metro labor union has voted to declare a labor dispute, demanding a wage increase and the withdrawal of the workforce reduction plan, among other things. The union plans to hold a vote next month on whether to authorize industrial action and then begin a work-to-rule campaign. If negotiations with management make no progress, it intends to take industrial action, including a strike.

The Seoul Metro labor union said it held an extraordinary delegates' meeting on October 15 and voted to declare a labor dispute in connection with the 2026 wage and collective bargaining agreement. It will also coordinate its response with the Korean Railway Workers' Union.

Citizens use the subway at Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 in Seoul on the 20th, as the Seoul Metro labor union, which operates Lines 1 through 8, begins a work-to-rule campaign. The union says it will go on strike from the 6th of next month if talks are refused. Photo by Cho Yongjun

The union's key demands are a 3.5% wage increase in line with government guidelines, the complete withdrawal of a plan to cut 2,212 jobs, and the hiring of 1,313 additional workers by the end of the year. It is also calling for national government funding for the costs of public services, such as free transportation, and improvements to safety-related policies, including making two-person work teams mandatory in the field.

The union and management began their first round of formal wage and collective bargaining negotiations on June 18 and have held a total of 22 rounds of talks, but have failed to reach agreement on key issues. The union declared negotiations deadlocked at the third formal bargaining session on September 29.

The union said management had not presented specific measures to address its key demands, citing consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and an organizational assessment. It said the plan for securing funds for a wage increase remained unclear, and that management had also failed to give clear answers to its demands to withdraw the workforce reduction plan and hire additional staff to fill vacancies.

The union plans to file for labor dispute mediation with the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission on October 16. From November 2 to 5, it will hold a vote among all union members on whether to authorize industrial action. On November 6, it will hold a joint press conference with the Korean Railway Workers' Union to announce the voting results and its next steps.

The union plans to hold a rally for workplace union officials on November 10 and a general assembly of union members on November 17, before beginning a work-to-rule campaign on November 20. If negotiations still make no progress, it intends to pursue industrial action, including a strike.

The union said, "This decision to declare a labor dispute is not simply a demand for a wage increase. It is a decision to prevent large-scale workforce cuts and recruit additional staff for the field, in order to protect the safety of workers and the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.