Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) plans to increase the operation of electric trains in preparation for the bus union strike in Seoul.
According to Korail on the 29th, an additional 30 electric trains will be operated in the metropolitan area in preparation for the strike announced by the Seoul bus management and labor union on the 30th.
The additional operating times will focus on peak hours with high ridership, such as morning and evening commutes, as well as late-night hours. The temporary electric trains will operate a total of 30 times across seven lines, including Gyeongbu, Gyeongin, Gyeongwon, Ilsan, Suin-Bundang, Gyeongui-Jungang, and Gyeongchun, with 13 trips in the morning, 9 during the evening rush hour, and 8 during late-night hours.
The bus management and labor union failed to reach an agreement during nine central negotiations from last December until the 3rd of this month and in pre-mediation meetings with the Seoul Regional Labor Commission.
The union claims that the bus companies and the Seoul city government are attempting to reform the wage system in a way that prevents not only wage freezes but also the payment of various allowances such as overtime pay. On the other hand, the Seoul city government maintains that, according to the Supreme Court's ruling on December 19 last year, regular bonuses are included in ordinary wages, stating, "Since wages automatically increase due to ordinary wage issues, it will be difficult to have further discussions if the union does not compromise."
Accordingly, if the last-minute negotiations between labor and management fall through, a strike is expected to begin from the first train on the 30th.