S.Korea crippled by railway strike

SEOUL, March 3 (UPI) -- The South Korean government Friday urged striking railway workers to return to work immediately or face stern legal measures.

The warning comes as the walkout extended a strike into a third day, crippling the country's railways and causing chaos for commuters in the Seoul metropolitan area, which has a population of 10 million.

The government and corporations are concerned a prolonged strike could paralyze transport in the world's 11th biggest economy.

"The government would take all possible measures to deal with the illegal strike by the unionized railroad workers," said Kim Chang-ho, the government spokesman.

"The government will continue to maintain its emergency measures without any disruptions to help minimize people's inconvenience from the strike," he said.

Government-run Korea Railroad Corp. said it has also relieved 2,244 of the striking officials of their posts since some 13,000 railroad workers walked off their jobs Wednesday, calling for better working conditions and higher wages.

Despite the warning, only about 30 percent of the striking workers returned to their workplace. The government estimates the labor action caused an estimated loss of more than $10 million.