Will Seoul Subway Go on Strike? Strike Authorization Votes Passed by Both First and Second Unions

Third Union to Hold Strike Authorization Vote Until November 21

The strike authorization votes by two labor unions of Seoul Metro have both passed.

On November 19, the Seoul Metro Labor Union, which is the first union of Seoul Metro, announced that the strike authorization vote held from November 14 to this day was approved with an 83.5% approval rate.

Citizens are using the subway at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Out of 9,130 union members, 8,087 participated in the vote, representing a turnout of 88.6%. There were 1,319 votes against, accounting for 16.3%.

With the approval of the vote, the first union has secured the legal right to strike. The union stated, "After a meeting of the strike countermeasure committee, we will decide on future actions following the approval of the vote and announce our plans at a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on November 25."

Previously, the strike authorization vote by the second union, the Seoul Metro Integrated Union affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, was also approved on November 17 with a 77.97% approval rate. The third union, the Right Labor Union, is conducting its strike authorization vote until 5 p.m. on November 21.

Seoul Metro held separate main negotiations with the first, second, and third unions, but all talks ultimately broke down. The main issues in the negotiations are wage increases and additional staffing.

After the breakdown of negotiations, all three unions applied for mediation with the Regional Labor Relations Commission, but mediation has been suspended for the first and third unions. If mediation by the commission is suspended and the strike authorization vote is approved, the unions can legally proceed with a strike.