Seoul School Care and Meal Services Confirmed for General Strike on 19-20

Union-Education Office Negotiation Fails

The vice principal is conducting an after-school care class at an elementary school in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] School care and meal service workers in the Seoul area have decided to go on strike from the 19th to the 20th. With nationwide care workers also announcing a second general strike at the end of this month, confusion is expected at school sites.

The Seoul School Irregular Workers Solidarity Council (Seoul Solidarity Council) announced on the 17th through an appeal that "after discussions among unions, we have decided to strike." The Seoul Solidarity Council is an organization that includes the Public Transport Workers' Union Education Public Officials Headquarters, the National Women's Union, the National School Irregular Workers Union, and the Seoul General Union. It comprises about 11,000 members including care workers, meal cooks, and nutritionists.

The Seoul Solidarity Council has been negotiating with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education regarding the transition of the retirement pension system to improve workers' treatment, but as discussions have not progressed properly, they decided to strike. In the appeal, the Seoul Solidarity Council stated, "Which union would make a decision that benefits only us while cutting the retirement funds of future entrants?"

Accordingly, during the strike period, operation of elementary school care classrooms and school meals are expected to be disrupted. If the strike proceeds, students will likely have to bring lunch boxes to school or rely on bread and milk for meals. Additionally, there is a possibility that school administration will also be affected.

In particular, separate from this strike, the Solidarity Council has announced a nationwide second care strike, so confusion among students and parents is expected to continue. During the first strike, there were many cases where schools delayed guidance on care classroom operation plans or had different operation plans by grade, which led to complaints from parents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.