Exclusive Yongin City "Will Operate Light Rail Normally During Commute Hours Even if Union Strikes"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Yongin City announced on the 27th that it will implement emergency measures, including operating the light rail normally during commute hours, to minimize inconvenience to citizens as the Yongin Light Rail union plans to strike for two days starting from the 30th.

According to the city, if the light rail union goes on strike, the city plans to minimize citizen inconvenience by establishing and operating an emergency transport measures task force comprising 23 members with the head of the Department of Construction and Transportation as the director. Separately, the city will operate an integrated task force with companies including Yongin Lightweight Rail (Inc.) and Neotrans (Inc.) and plans to discuss response measures and transportation strategies in case of incidents. In these emergency measures, the city will maintain normal operations during commute hours as usual by deploying replacement personnel in cooperation with Neotrans, the light rail operator, to ensure no disruption to citizen commuting.

In relation to this, the Gyeonggi Province Labor Relations Commission adjusted essential personnel in control, electricity, signaling, vehicles, and facilities at 70.83% (68 people) to be maintained regardless of the strike. Unlike general urban railways, Yongin Light Rail operates without staff and can maintain a certain level of operation with only a small number of essential personnel such as control operators. Through this, the light rail will operate at three-minute intervals from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. during morning commute hours, and at five-minute intervals from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. during evening commute hours. If the strike is prolonged and light rail operation rates decline, the city plans to secure alternative transportation by shortening bus intervals and focusing on taxi deployment during commute hours so citizens can use public transportation without inconvenience.

An official from Yongin City stated, "Despite the union's strike, there will be no significant disruption to light rail operations in the short term," and added, "We will make multifaceted efforts to ensure citizens can use Yongin Light Rail safely and conveniently."

Meanwhile, the Yongin Light Rail union, established in January, conducted negotiations with Neotrans (Inc.), the operator, 41 times through December. However, the union is known to have gone on strike after failing to narrow differences over demands such as expanding permanent employment and opposing flexible working hours.