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November 05, 2009
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| Several unions announced yesterday that they will launch a series of joint strikes to protest the government’s attempts to reform the public sector, a move that could lead to some disruptions for travelers. Unions that represent railway workers and employees at the Korea Gas Corporation, the National Pension Service and Kyungpook National University Hospital - which are all part of either the Federation of Korean Trade Unions or the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions - said they will begin striking this week. In a joint statement released yesterday, the two umbrella labor unions said the government’s unilateral reforms threaten job security in the public sector. The Korean Railway Workers’ Union plans to start a two-day strike today after failing to narrow its differences regarding employee welfare issues with Korail (the Korea Railroad Corporation). Workers in non-metropolitan areas will begin their strike at 9 a.m. today, while those in metropolitan areas will start tomorrow. Only 40 percent of all railway workers are allowed to participate in the strike, and Korail said it will inject extra emergency workers to minimize inconveniences today and tomorrow. Still, there could be some service disruptions on subway line No. 1, passenger trains and freight trains, officials said. Workers from the other three unions will join the walkout tomorrow, and the unions said they will hold a series of strikes until Nov. 20. Additionally, more than 10,000 union members are planning to gather in front of the Gwacheon Government Complex tomorrow. By Chang Chung-hoon, Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr] |
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