Seoul Metro Union: "Cancellation of Probationary Appointment Is Unfair Dismissal"... Subway Labor-Management Conflict Resurfaces

Labor Union to Take Legal Action Against Appointment Cancellation
Collective Bargaining Vote to Proceed Without Disruption

The Seoul Metro Corporation labor union and management, which previously faced a total strike crisis over workforce reductions, are now in conflict over the cancellation of appointments for probationary employees who participated in the strike. The union has stated that it will pursue legal action, including filing for relief from unfair dismissal and citing workplace harassment. However, the wage and collective bargaining agreement member vote is planned to proceed without disruption.

On the 9th, when the Seoul Metro Union operating lines 1 to 8 of the Seoul Subway began a two-day warning strike, a strike-related notice was posted on the platform of Line 5 at Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

According to the Seoul Metro Corporation on the 27th, the Seoul Metro labor union affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said in a statement the day before regarding the cancellation of probationary employee appointments, "We will immediately implement legal measures to recover from this unprecedented act of unfair dismissal," and "We will also take measures to guarantee employment status."

The issue began on the 23rd when the corporation held a personnel committee meeting and decided not to appoint probationary train operator A, who belongs to the Sindap Train Operation Office.

The corporation converts newly hired employees to full-time staff after a three-month probation period based on evaluations by their supervisors. A was a union member of the corporation’s labor union and followed the union’s compliance strike guidelines issued on the 2nd. The head of the Sindap Train Operation Office, who had the authority to evaluate A, reportedly submitted an opinion to the personnel committee stating that "delayed operation constitutes insubordination and therefore appointment is not possible." All other probationary employees except A were appointed.

The corporation stated that the personnel committee’s evaluation was based on a comprehensive review of work performance during the probation period. However, the union strongly opposed this. A representative of the corporation’s labor union said, "A was a probationary employee and served as a conductor, not a train operator," adding, "The conductor is responsible for passenger announcements and door control at the rear of the train, so how could they cause delayed operation?"

They continued, "We consider this an unfair dismissal and plan to file for relief with the local labor commission," and added, "The head of the train operation office instructed A to write a report on the compliance strike, then forced A to rewrite it by hand, citing reasons such as 'the handwriting is too small,' which we see as workplace harassment and will respond accordingly."

However, the upcoming wage and collective bargaining agreement vote scheduled for next month will proceed normally. Earlier, the corporation and the labor union reached a collective bargaining agreement during final negotiations on the 22nd, one day before the second general strike. A representative of the corporation’s labor union said, "We are coordinating the schedule for the member vote with the integrated union affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, but it is expected to take place in early next month," and added, "The vote is unrelated to the unfair dismissal case, so it will proceed as planned."

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