Airport workers nationwide went on an indefinite general strike starting on the 29th. It comes 16 days after they held a general strike during the Chuseok holiday last month. Concerns are rising that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, on the 31st may face disruptions to smooth proceedings.
The National Airport Workers' Solidarity, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), said it began an indefinite general strike at 12 a.m. that day. The National Airport Workers' Solidarity is composed of the National Airport Labor Union, which includes workers from 14 airports nationwide such as the Incheon Airport Regional Branch of the Public Transport Workers' Union and Gimpo and Gimhae. Union members participating in the strike belong to airport subsidiaries and handle airport environmental cleaning, parking, electrical facilities, runway maintenance and repair, refueling, and fire services.
The Airport Workers' Solidarity is demanding that the four-team, two-shift system implemented by Incheon International Airport Corporation in 2007 be applied to subsidiaries as well. Subsidiaries currently operate a three-team shift system. The union says this is why fatal accidents and industrial disasters continue to occur.
The National Airport Labor Union will hold a general strike rally at 3 p.m. that day at Gimhae Airport. Gimhae Airport serves as the "gateway airport" for the APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang. Because of this, there are criticisms that airport workers are leveraging the APEC summit to gain an edge in talks with management.
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to enter through Gimhae Airport on the morning of that day after completing his visit to Japan, and depart Korea from Gimhae Airport on the 30th. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also visit Korea via Gimhae Airport on the 30th. Therefore, the first summit between President Trump and President Xi in six years will be held at the air force base inside Gimhae Airport.
Other major figures from various countries attending the APEC summit and the CEO Summit are also expected to use Gimhae Airport starting that day. There are concerns that travelers will experience inconveniences.
However, airport workers have legally mandated minimum staffing, so personnel such as security screeners cannot join the strike. Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), which operates 14 airports nationwide excluding Incheon Airport, has activated an emergency response system and is deploying essential personnel secured in advance and internal and external substitute workers from subsidiaries.
Earlier, the Airport Workers' Solidarity launched a general strike ahead of last month's Chuseok holiday, which lasted up to 10 days. They began the general strike on the 1st; the 14 airports excluding Incheon Airport halted the strike on the 4th and returned to work on site. Incheon Airport workers ended their strike on the 11th. Now, timed with the APEC summit, they are launching another general strike 16 days later.