Some 50,000 temporary and contract school workers across the country excluding Seoul are set to go on a strike Wednesday, demanding a pay raise, more benefits and better job security.

The union of non-regular employees working for meal services, English classes, administration assistance and extracurricular activities said its members approved a walkout in recent votes.

Its chapter in Seoul will not join the action as they reached an agreement with the education authorities in July.

The union has some 60,000, members including 10,000 in Seoul.

They are demanding the government to guarantee a regular raise of 30,000 won ($28) in salary per year, pay bonuses and allowances matching their regular counterparts, and hire them on permanent contracts without evaluation, which they fear could be arbitrary.

Education Ministry officials said it was difficult to meet the unions’ demands as they are short of next year’s budget.

Financial grants for local education were initially planned to expand by 4.2 trillion won, but it was reduced to 230 billion won, according to government officials.

Last November, the temps went on a general strike and about 10 percent of the country’s schools had to stop meal services temporarily.

By Suk Gee-hyun (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)