Won Hee-ryong: "Responding to Railroad Union Strike According to Law and Principles"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The government has expressed its strong intention to respond firmly to the nationwide railway workers' union's general strike scheduled for the 2nd of next month.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong stated at a meeting held at the Korea Railroad Corporation Busan·Gyeongnam Headquarters in Dong-gu, Busan, to prepare for the railway union strike, "We will respond thoroughly according to the law and principles without compromise regarding the railway union's strike crossing into illegal territory."

Minister Won said, "The railway does not belong to the Railroad Corporation or the union, but to the people," adding, "Yet, the attitude of ignoring and disregarding the public's inconvenience to enforce their demands by leveraging collective power will not be tolerated by the public."

He also emphasized, "We will no longer overlook the illegal strikes becoming a custom whenever the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions declares a general struggle," and added, "Of course, we will sit down and engage in open-minded dialogue and reflect on sound and reasonable situations."

Minister Won also stated that he would deal strictly with the threatening posts made by the railway union against soldiers recently deployed as strike replacement personnel.

He said, "I hope those who persist in selfishness, vested interests, and threats will cut themselves off," and warned, "Otherwise, especially those who threatened soldiers will definitely be found and made to pay an appropriate price."

The railway union has announced a strike starting from the 2nd of next month, demanding a fixed wage increase, suspension of the introduction of a job-based pay system, and securing wage equity between employees under the seniority-based and annual salary systems.