Rail Workers' Union: 77.6% Back Industrial Action... Possible December General Strike

21,600 union members take part... turnout reaches 87.6%
Union calls for promotion system improvements and more safety staff
Labor-management talks likely to continue... general strike if they fail

The National Railroad Workers' Union, whose members include workers at Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), has warned of a possible all-out strike in December following the breakdown of wage and collective bargaining talks. The union has completed the procedures required to launch a strike, after members voted in favor of industrial action. Whether a strike will actually take place, however, is expected to depend on future labor-management negotiations.

According to the union on November 5, 21,634 of its 24,691 members took part in a vote on industrial action that began on November 2. The turnout was 87.6%, with 16,783 members, or 77.6% of those who voted, supporting the action. Supporters accounted for 68.0% of all union members.

A notice about train services is displayed on an electronic board in the concourse of Seoul Station on September 14, 2023, as the railway workers' union began a four-day strike. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The union had declared the breakdown of negotiations at the third main bargaining session held on October 14. At an extraordinary delegates' meeting the following day, it decided to declare an industrial dispute.

The union is calling for improvements to the promotion system and an increase in safety staffing. A union official said, "The current promotion system is unfair because it excludes frontline workers. Frontline union members are being passed over for promotions, while opportunities are concentrated among headquarters staff and managers." The official added, "The shortage of safety personnel on the railways has reached a serious level, and KORAIL also acknowledges that more staff are needed. The problem is not being resolved because of the government's staffing controls."

Following the approval of industrial action, the union plans to have all members wear protest vests and back placards, take part in a safe-operations campaign, and refuse to work on holidays. If negotiations make no progress, it plans to launch an all-out struggle, including a general strike next month.

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