Unionists shelve strike as management agrees to consult before downsizing

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at Seoul City's railway system dropped strike plans Thursday after the management agreed not to pursue downsizing unilaterally.

The deal was struck about one hour before the union of Seoul Metro was to strike
as of 4 a.m., a union spokesman said.
"The management has agreed to reform management of the company toward the
direction of enhancing citizens' safety and convenience," the spokesman said.
"That means the management will consult the union before restructuring, although
the management has downsized the company unilaterally."
The agreement came at the end of an 11-hour negotiation that began at a cultural
center in Yongdap-dong, eastern Seoul.
President Lee Myung-bak warned Tuesday that his government would react harshly to
any illegal labor action, saying, "We will sternly deal with the illegal strike
if (the labor union of) a state-run company launches an illegal strike at this
difficult time."
Lee said in Washington Sunday that labor strikes, along with street rallies and
security threats from nuclear-armed North Korea, have undermined South Korea's
brand value, stressing the need to restore the rule of law and order.
Foreign investors have long complained about lukewarm attitudes of South Korean
police in cracking down on illegal strikes and street rallies, apparently due to
a decades-old tradition of anti-government rallies under authoritarian
governments that pro-democracy forces have dubbed as lacking legitimacy.
Most industrial actions in South Korea are illegal as unionists tend not to abide
by the law, which requires them to report to relevant authorities their intention
to strike and undergo a cooling-off period and government mediation.
The 9,300-strong union, part of a public corporation that runs Seoul subway lines
one through four, is locked in a wage dispute with Seoul Metro over the subway
operator's plan to cut jobs by 20 percent and to allow private firms to operate
some subway stations in a bid to streamline business operations.
The strike was expected to take place simultaneously with the strike of national
railway workers, who are prepared to walk off work as of 9 a.m.
The union of Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), which operates both inter-city and
some subway lines linking Seoul with surrounding satellite cities, is demanding
the management rehire 47 workers fired in 2003.
Both Seoul Metro and KORAIL claim that their services will not be largely
affected by the strike, as they have put extra workers on standby.