WORLD
Unionized Seoul Metro workers go on strike; few disruptions reported during morning rush hour
Baku, November 30, AZERTAC
Unionized workers at Seoul Metro, the city-run operator of the subway system in Seoul, went on a strike Wednesday, but few subway disruptions were reported during the morning rush hour, as replacement workers were mobilized, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Allied labor unions of Seoul Metro, representing some 13,000 workers, or 80 percent of the firm's entire workforce, kicked off the walkout early Wednesday morning, one day after their eight-hour negotiation with the company broke down without a breakthrough.
The strike affecting Subway Line No. 1 trough No. 8 marks the first of its kind in six years since the last one in September of 2016.
The unions have been protesting against Seoul Metro's plan to downsize its workforce by more than 1,500 employees through 2026.
Seoul Metro was mobilizing retired employees and non-unionized workers as replacement workers to keep train operations at the normal level during the busy morning rush hour.
Train operating rates after the morning rush hour, however, will go down to 72.7 percent of the normal level, while trains will run at 85.7 percent of the normal level during the evening rush hour.