Workers at Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation) subsidiaries have gone on a three-day general strike starting today (September 21), protesting the government's subsidiary integration plan and demanding improved treatment and direct employment.

The Korea Railway Workers' Union branches for Korail Networks, Korail Tourism Development, and the Railway Customer Center held a resolution rally for the general strike in front of Exit 3 of Seoul Station today (September 21).

According to the union, 1,300 workers participated in this general strike.

An unofficial police estimate put the number of attendees at the site at 800.

Criticizing the government's plan to integrate and reorganize Korail's existing five subsidiaries into three specialized companies focusing on customer service, distribution and logistics, and maintenance, they stated, "This only intensifies conflicts among subsidiary workers," adding, "It is a plan that merely increases the size of the subsidiaries while leaving the structures of discrimination and exploitation intact, without any promises of improving working conditions."

Kim Jongho, head of the Korail Networks branch, said, "Subsidiary workers suffer from endlessly insufficient wages and poor working conditions, facing discrimination even while working at the same railway sites," and added, "We will win integration with the primary contractor, not integration among subsidiaries."

In addition, they demanded ▲ the implementation of a four-group, two-shift system based on the principle of equal pay for equal work, ▲ unification of the job grading system for regular and fixed-term workers, ▲ reflection of length-of-service pay, and ▲ payment of holiday bonuses.

Following the resolution rally, they plan to march toward the Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae.

(Photo: Yonhap News)