Ahead of this week's rail and Seoul subway strikes, the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said on the 8th that it reviewed the status of labor-management guidance. Korea Railroad Corporation has previously warned of a general strike starting on Thursday, the 11th, and Seoul Metro starting on Friday, the 12th.
At the review meeting that day, the ministry examined the status of bargaining over wage and collective agreements (wage and collective bargaining) at Korea Railroad Corporation and Seoul Metro, and the positions of labor and management on key issues.
The union at Korea Railroad Corporation is demanding the normalization of performance bonus payment standards and the integration of high-speed rail, while the union at Seoul Metro is demanding wage increases and additional staffing.
The ministry said, "Through the competent local offices, we are actively supporting labor-management mediation so that the rail and subway labor and management can reach an agreement on wage and collective bargaining through dialogue, but the gap between the two sides has not narrowed."
Kwon Chang-jun, Vice Minister of the ministry, said, "Because rail and subways are representative public transportation modes that handle the public's commutes, please do your best, in cooperation with related agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to prepare solutions that will allow labor and management to reach an amicable agreement on wage and collective bargaining through dialogue."