South Korea airport workers to strike nationwide

The National Airport Workers’ Alliance in South Korea -- representing workers from 15 airports nationwide including Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport -- said it will commence a total strike starting next Friday (Sep 19) until October.

Most of the workers from the union are employed by subsidiaries of the airports, not directly by Incheon International Airport Corporation or Korea Airports Corporation.

The alliance held a press conference on Tuesday to declare the strike in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan.

The union is asking for necessary workforce expansion including revising the current 3-team, 2-shift system into a 4-team, 2-shift system at Incheon Airport.

The union claimed that there will be delays of 3 to 8 hours at various airports as over 60 percent of members are expected to participate in the strike.

However, Incheon Airport stated that even if the strike proceeds, passengers will not face disruptions such as flight cancellations.

The airport said it is legally required to maintain essential personnel for operations, as 78 percent of boarding bridge operations directly related to aircraft departures fall under essential personnel.

(The Chosun Daily)