Confusion Expected in Commute Due to Total Bus and Subway Strike on 22nd
Jeonjangyeon Resumes Morning Commute Protests After Two Months
The Seoul Metro Union and Gyeonggi Province bus company Gyeongjin Passenger Transport have announced a general strike on the 22nd, raising expectations of commuting chaos for metropolitan area citizens.
As of 8 p.m. on the 21st, the Seoul Metro management and union have not been able to narrow their differences over workforce reduction. The management insists that workforce reduction is inevitable to overcome large-scale deficits and normalize management, planning to cut 2,212 employees by 2026. On the other hand, the union demands the withdrawal of unreasonable workforce cuts, arguing that it directly affects safety, and insists that the shortage caused by retirements should be filled through new hires.
Previously, on the 9th and 10th, the 1st union conducted a first warning strike. At that time, the management maintained subway operations at 100% of normal levels during the morning commute, avoiding congestion, but the subway operation rate dropped during the evening rush hour, increasing congestion.
If the current negotiations fail, an indefinite second strike will begin on the 22nd. The 2nd union, which has participated in the negotiations, plans not to join the second strike, as was the case during the first warning strike.
Passengers are waiting for the subway at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 on the 21st, one day before the Seoul Metro Labor Union's second general strike. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The union of Gyeongjin Passenger Transport, a bus company in Gyeonggi Province, also decided to hold a general strike by completely suspending bus operations for one day on the 22nd. The union plans to hold a general strike rally at 11 a.m. in front of Exit 4 of Suwon Station, with about 500 union members attending. After the rally, a dispute countermeasure committee will be convened to decide whether to operate buses on the 23rd.
Gyeongjin Passenger Transport operates 177 intercity buses on 14 routes, including ▲Route 7770 (Suwon Station?Sadang Station), ▲Route 3000 (Gosaek Station?Gangnam Station), and ▲Route 7800 (West Suwon?Sadang Station). The union has already conducted five partial strikes on the afternoons of the 13th, mornings of the 14th and 15th, morning of the 17th, and morning of the 20th.
Meanwhile, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) resumed subway boarding protests after about two months. On the morning of the 20th, Jeonjangyeon held a subway boarding protest during the morning commute at City Hall Station on Seoul Subway Line 2.
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