The Seoul city bus labor relations team will begin final wage negotiations on the 29th. If the negotiations fail, the union plans to initiate collective actions, including a strike, starting with the first bus the following day.
According to the Seoul City Bus Labor Union of the National Automobile Workers' Union, the bus labor relations team will hold a mediation meeting from 5 p.m. on the same day at the Seoul Regional Labor Commission in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to discuss wage increases and other agenda items.
The Seoul city bus union and the management, represented by the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association, have been unable to narrow their differences regarding wages this year. On the 14th, they submitted a mediation request to the Seoul Regional Labor Commission to initiate the mediation process, which is set to conclude by that day. The union has warned that if the wage negotiations fail, it will commence full collective actions, including lawful protests and strikes, starting at 4 a.m. on the 30th.
The union is demanding that the bi-monthly bonuses be included in the regular wage and that the current retirement age of 63 be extended to 65. The management is asking for a revision of the wage system that lowers the regular wages. Currently, 64 companies are participating in the union, and it is known that 61 companies are eligible for collective bargaining and participation in the collective actions.
Earlier, last year, when the Seoul city bus union's wage negotiations failed, they went on strike. This was the first strike in 12 years since 2012. However, through mediation by the city, the labor and management reached an agreement on wage negotiations based on a wage increase of 4.48% and a holiday bonus of 650,000 won after 11 hours. As a result, the strike was completely withdrawn, and normal operations resumed.
Seoul's city buses are operated under a semi-public system. This system allows local governments to compensate bus companies for deficits while maintaining public services, such as keeping routes in underserved areas.