Seoul Metro's primary union, the Seoul Metro Labor Union, demanded more staffing and wage increases from management and warned that it will launch an indefinite general strike starting on the 25th of this month if the company refuses. Because Seoul Metro operates all of subway Lines 1–8 and phases 2 and 3 of Line 9, a strike would likely disrupt Seoul subway service.
The union announced the plan at a rally of on-site executives held in front of the annex of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on the 10th.
In this year's wage talks, the union demanded a 3.5% pay raise under government guidelines and the withdrawal of management's plan to cut 2,212 jobs. It also called for filling 1,313 vacancies within the year to ease staffing shortages on the ground.
The union also pressed for policy changes, including requiring the state to fund the cost of providing public-interest subway services and mandating two-person teams for on-site work to improve safety.
But the two sides have failed to reach common ground in wage talks, and the union filed for labor-dispute mediation with the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission last month. With the gap unchanged during mediation, the commission ended the process on the 2nd.
The union held a strike-authorization vote among members. Of 9,201 eligible members, 7,782 (84.6%) voted, and 6,715 (86.3%) voted in favor.
Not only the Seoul Metro Labor Union but also the second union, the Seoul Metro Integrated Union, and the third union, the Right Union, won approval in their strike-authorization votes, with support rates of 80.8% and 94.9%, respectively.
The union plans to begin a work-to-rule action starting with the day shift on the 20th. The Seoul Metro Integrated Union and the unions at Airport Railroad and GTX-A will join, it said. The KORAIL union plans to stage a work-to-rule starting on the 23rd.
If management and the Seoul city government still do not shift their stance after the work-to-rule, the union plans to begin a full strike on the 25th. Union Chairperson Kim Jeong-seop told reporters in a briefing that afternoon, "If we don't reach a deal by the 25th, we will strike," adding, "We're ready to resume talks as soon as tomorrow and are urging Seoul Metro and the Seoul city government to come to the table."
