A KTX train is stopped at Seoul Station on the afternoon of the 14th, when the Korea Railroad Workers’ Union went on its first general strike in four years. Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan
As the general strike of the railroad union continues as planned, passengers are experiencing inconvenience and logistics are being disrupted, but the gap between routes is not narrowing.
The union is predicting additional strikes if the strike ends without income, raising concerns that the damage could increase.
Participation rate on the first day of general strike was 21.7%… Even with more manpower than planned, the operation rate was 76.4%.
The Korea Railroad Workers’ Union (Railroad Workers’ Union) went on a general strike as scheduled on the morning of the 14th.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 2,804 out of 12,905 people expected to go to work that day participated in the strike, recording a participation rate of 21.7%.
Although it is lower than the 22.8% at the time of the previous general strike in November 2019, the train operation rate was bound to drop as more than one-fifth of them participated in the strike.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport increased operation by 111.9% of the original plan through the introduction of replacement personnel, maintaining the average operation rate of all trains at 76.4% as of 3 p.m. on the 14th.
However, there was large variation by field.
In order to prevent traffic chaos during commuting, we focused our efforts on the metropolitan subway, and while the operation rate of the subway was high at 83.0% (90% for commuting to work, 80% for returning to work), the operation rate for freight trains was only 26.3%.
In the case of passenger trains, KTX maintained 76.4% by concentrating on replacement personnel, while the operation rate of general passenger trains fell to 68.1%.
It is estimated that freight trains, whose operating rates have dropped significantly, will cause greater damage to the industry than transportation inconveniences.
The continuing river-to-river standoff between the ruling and opposition parties… Union: “For the sake of public interest, KTX to Suseo must be deployed”
A KTX train is stopped at Seoul Station on the afternoon of the 14th, when the Korea Railroad Workers’ Union went on its first general strike in four years. Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan
Even though concerns about damage are high, both the union and the government are continuing a hard-line standoff, repeating their existing positions.
The railway union, which held a strike launch ceremony on this day, repeatedly urged the government to meet its existing demands, including the introduction of KTX to Suseo, expansion of public railways, implementation of good faith negotiation agreements, and full implementation of 4 groups and 2 shifts.
In particular, regarding the increase and decrease in the number of KTX and SRT vehicles, which were reorganized this month, the government said that it has begun privatizing the railway in earnest, changing the terminal station of the Gyeongbu Line KTX to Suseo Station, operating KTX and SRT high-speed vehicles in an integrated manner, and connecting operations and fares for both vehicles. They even called for system unification.
It is argued that the fact that the number of seats on the Gyeongbu Line was reduced to a maximum of 4,920 per day due to the reorganization of the SRT route is not an improvement in efficiency, but a so-called division between KTX and SRT, and is causing much greater inconvenience to citizens than can be achieved through this.
Citizens who have used the SRT to travel between Suseo and Busan are responding favorably to the union’s claims.
One netizen said, “I used the SRT to travel between Seoul’s Gangnam area and Busan, but I don’t know what they’re saying if they reduce service like this.” He added, “Why did they divide the high-speed rail, which was originally one, into two, making users anxious every time the route is reorganized?” “I don’t know if I do it,” he said.
The railroad union emphasized that since connecting KTX and SRT would increase efficiency, all that is needed is to adjust the fare discrimination that has been raised as an obstacle, but why are the roles of KORAIL and SR divided? They had no choice but to go on strike.
In addition, he pointed out that 4 groups of 2 shifts are needed to solve the difficulties of working at night for two consecutive days, and that most of the companies in the same industry are implementing this, but the fact that only the railroad has been in pilot operation for 4 years is a major problem.
Government sticks to its existing stance: “Policies are not subject to labor-management negotiations”
On the other hand, the government is only repeating its existing position that ‘policies are not subject to labor-management negotiations.’
Regarding the reduction in service due to the strike, replacement workers will be actively deployed to minimize inconvenience to citizens and damage to logistics, but the strike itself cannot be acknowledged, nor can the union’s demands be accepted.
KORAIL CEO Han Moon-hee said in a public apology on the 14th, “This strike is unjustified because its core purpose is government policy issues that cannot be resolved through negotiation, such as KTX operation to Suseo and integration of high-speed rail,” on the 13th, the previous day. This is no different from the position of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which said that “government policy matters other than those negotiated between labor and management cannot be subject to negotiation.”
This means that they will only repeat the claim that ‘a railroad strike without cause is nothing more or less than causing inconvenience to the people’ and will not respond to the union’s demands at all.
“I’m really worried starting tomorrow”… Concerns grow over the possibility of a prolonged strike
A red light is on on the railroad tracks at Seoul Station on the afternoon of the 14th, when the Korea Railroad Workers’ Union went on its first general strike in four years. Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan
It is expected that inconvenience to users will continue as the two sides do not narrow their positions. Damage to the industry due to logistics disruption may also increase.
Although congestion on the metropolitan subway during rush hour was not as great as expected, there were significant inconveniences for passengers using the high-speed train between the metropolitan area and regional areas or for citizens commuting from the outskirts of the metropolitan area to downtown Seoul.
In particular, the railroad union has declared that it may extend the strike until the Chuseok holiday if the government does not respond to its demands, raising concerns that the damage could be prolonged.
Mr. Go, who lives in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, said, “Luckily, I came during the usual time today and there was no major problem when changing trains,” but added, “I’m really worried because I heard that the train I usually take will not run from tomorrow.”
An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a phone call with CBS Nocut News, “There is no disagreement that this strike lacks legitimacy. If the railroad union is truly concerned about the public nature of railroad transportation, they will strike for now, holding public safety and convenience hostage.” He said, “We need to engage in dialogue with the government from a broader perspective, rather than just going ahead and seeing.”
2023-09-14 20:00:00
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