Early Gov"t Intervention in the Event of Subway Strike

The government plans to use every means at its disposal at an early stage, if the union of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation follows through with a strike on April 19, as it announced earlier this month.
A source at the government said on April 18, 'The rapid exercise of public power to prevent the inconvenience of citizens and uphold the law, this principal, is the fixed standpoint of the government in the event of the union's illegal strike.'
The source added, 'The union strike would be an opportunity to confirm the strong will of the government to harshly punish illegal labor disputes and send a message to those refusing to restructure themselves.'
Prior to this anouncement, the Seoul Subway Corporation, acknowledging it could not effectively resolve the conflict between labor and management itself, applied for mediation on April 17 to the Central Labor Relations Committee, an autonomous body which arbitrates disputes among labor, management and the government.
According to the application, the Labor Relations Committee will attempt to induce labor and management to reach a compromise by organizing a special mediation committee. If the committee fails to achieve concrete results by the end of a 15-day period, it then commences compulsory rulings according to its official authority.
Strikes and any works of sabotage during the 15 days of the committee's mediation, are illegal.
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr