Seoul City Bus Union Strike Vote... Total Strike on 26th if No Agreement Reached

On the 15th, one day before the nationwide bus strike, buses are parked at a public garage in Seoul. The Seoul City Bus Union and the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association are continuing a tug-of-war at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission over wage increases and retirement age extension following the implementation of the 52-hour workweek system. The union plans to halt operations from the first bus at 4 a.m. if no agreement is reached by midnight tonight. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul City Bus Labor Union began a strike vote until 4 p.m. on the 19th.

If the vote results in a majority in favor of the strike and labor-management negotiations fail, the union plans to launch a full strike starting on the 26th.

The Seoul City Bus Labor Union, which has been negotiating wages with the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association representing management, has about 18,600 members across 61 companies. The union covers 7,235 city buses, accounting for 98% of all city buses.

So far, the union has demanded a fixed wage increase of 322,276 KRW, but management has insisted on a wage freeze, causing repeated deadlocks.

Accordingly, the union declared the negotiations broken down and filed a labor dispute mediation request on the 9th. If the mediation period expires on the 25th without resolution, the union plans to strike starting on the 26th without extending the period. Previously, the nationwide bus union also announced a general strike.

The union's position is that since wages were frozen last year, a second consecutive year of wage freeze is equivalent to a wage cut and is unacceptable. Additionally, the union is demanding improvements in meal quality, the conclusion of a job security agreement, and the withdrawal of plans to build underground public bus garages.

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