Seoul Metro Primary Union Withdraws Strike After Dramatic Wage and Collective Bargaining Agreement

Agreement Reached on Workforce Expansion and Wage Increase
Second and Third Unions Also Near Settlement

The wage and collective bargaining agreement negotiations between labor and management of Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 to 8 in Seoul, have been dramatically concluded.

Seoul Metro and the Seoul Metro Labor Union, the first union affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, signed the agreement on the wage and collective bargaining deal around 6 a.m. on the 12th.

The wage and collective bargaining agreement negotiations between labor and management of Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 to 8 in Seoul, were concluded around 6 a.m. on the 12th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Previously, labor and management began their final main negotiations at the company headquarters in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, around 1 p.m. the previous day, but adjourned after 40 minutes. Despite lengthy working-level talks that continued into the early morning, the two sides failed to narrow their differences. As a result, the union declared the breakdown of negotiations at around 3:30 a.m. and announced a general strike would begin with the first trains at 5:30 a.m.

However, after management presented a more advanced proposal, both sides returned to the negotiating table at around 5:35 a.m. and reached an agreement.

Regarding the major issue of workforce replenishment, labor and management agreed to promptly hire 820 new employees by expanding recruitment for vacancies and replacing those retiring at the mandatory retirement age. They also agreed to restore wage increases to the 3% range, in line with public institution guidelines.

Kim Taekyun, head of the first union, stated, "We have also reached agreements to resolve wage reduction issues, promote the normalization of ordinary wages, and begin improving the work environment related to the cluster outbreak of blood cancer starting next year." He added, "It is regrettable that years of labor-management conflict and severe difficulties have resulted from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's misguided restructuring policies. We urge the city and Seoul Metro to shift from repeated labor-management conflicts and workforce reduction-driven management innovation plans to a management approach focused on safe operations."

Meanwhile, following the first union, the wage and collective bargaining agreement with the second union, the Seoul Metro Integrated Union affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, was also concluded at around 6:35 a.m. The agreement with the third union, the Right Union, is also expected to be finalized soon.