[THE INVESTOR] Unionized workers of South Korea’s railway and subway services went on their first joint strike in 22 years on Sept. 27.

It is in line with a series of labor movements carried out by union workers in the public sector against the new wage system, which started last week with the Federation of Korean Public Industry Trade Unions.

The members of Seoul’s two major subway labor unions launched the walkout at 9 a.m., the unions said. The joint strike by subway workers from both unions -- from lines 1 to 4 and lines 5 to 8 -- is the first in 12 years.

About 2,380 people joined the strike as of noon, accounting for 30.5 percent of all subway workers from lines 1 through 8, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The city government said it has assigned temporary workers, including city officials, to prevent major disruption during rush hour. Operations around quitting time -- 6 to 7 p.m. -- will also be carried out as usual.

If the strike continues for more than a week, the city government is planning to implement supplementary measures, such as expanding other means of transportations, such as buses, and keep the afternoon operations at about 70 percent of the usual.

On the same day, the Korean Railway Workers’ Union also went on strike as of 9 a.m.

About 2,300 employees working for railway services took part in the walkout as of 9 a.m., accounting for about 30 percent of the total workforce who were supposed to have been on duty at the time, the KORAIL said.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)