SEOUL - In a critical development, Seoul Metro, the operator of Seoul's subway service, is scheduled to engage in last-minute negotiations with its labor union. The talks aim to address concerns over a proposed manpower reduction, with a strike threatened by the unionized workers looming just a day away.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the final round of discussions is set to commence at the company headquarters in eastern Seoul at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. These negotiations follow ten previous rounds held since July, which failed to resolve the dispute. Seoul Metro, managed by the Seoul city government, has revealed a plan to reduce its workforce by 2,212 employees, or 13.5 percent, by 2026. This move is intended to address the organization's chronic deficit and normalize management operations.
However, the company's union has announced plans for a one-day strike on Thursday in protest against the workforce reduction, citing concerns that excessive downsizing could compromise safety. The last meeting between labor and management, held at a regional labor office on October 17, did not yield any agreement.
In the event of a strike, subway operations are expected to continue at a reduced rate, ranging from 53.5 percent on Line 1 to 79.8 percent on Lines 5 to 8, in accordance with a pre-existing labor-management agreement designed to minimize public inconvenience.