Korail strike called off after deal reached overnight

A train arrives at Seoul Station on Thursday. [NEWS1]

A rail strike that was to start at 9 a.m. Friday has been called off after the Korea Railway Workers' Union reached an agreement overnight with management.

The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) strike would have affected KTX bullet trains and Mugunghwa, Saemaeul and tourist trains. Some subway services in Seoul would also have been affected.

Korail manages metro lines 1, 3 and 4 together with Seoul Metro. It operates 82 percent of trains on Line 1, 25 percent on Line 3, and 30 percent on Line 4. It also operates the Gyeongui-Jungang and Suin-Bundang lines.

According to the agreement overnight, Korail will come up with a solution to the issue of ordinary wages in stages by cooperating with the finance ministry. The Korean Railway Workers' Union had demanded a wage increase of 187,000 won (US$143) per month, a transparent promotion system and the maintenance of the current criteria for performance-based pay.

The management has also agreed to provide better working conditions following the death of one rail worker in Uiwang, 25 kilometers south of Seoul. The worker was killed trying to connect and separate cargo trains at Obong Station in Uiwang on Nov. 1.

BY KIM JEE-HEE [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]