Bus unions from 22 cities nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, have warned that they will begin a simultaneous nationwide strike starting with the first bus on the 28th if negotiations with management break down. This would be the first nationwide bus strike in 13 years. The Seoul Bus Union stated that it will continue to operate in compliance with the law (lawful struggle) until midnight on the 27th, and may initiate a 'partial strike' if necessary.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' National Automobile Workers' Union held a national representative meeting on the morning of the 8th and announced the results of the meeting.
◇ Nationwide bus unions apply for simultaneous mediation on the 12th and begin negotiations
Chairperson Seo Jong-soo of the National Automobile Workers' Union noted after the meeting that the various regional unions under the federation, excluding Seoul, will apply for simultaneous mediation on May 12 and will do their utmost to negotiate during the 15-day mediation period, stating, “If a consensus is not reached, we will commence a nationwide simultaneous strike starting with the first bus on May 28.”
The nationwide simultaneous strike will target not only the regions where the bus semi-public service system is implemented, such as Seoul, Incheon, and Busan, but all cities. Additionally, it will include city buses, intercity buses, village buses, and express buses, with a total of about 40,000 vehicles participating, according to the union. The union added, “We will place all proposals on the negotiating table and conduct negotiations with an open attitude to minimize citizen inconvenience.”
The meeting was organized to seek joint response measures from regional bus unions related to the issue of ordinary wages. Previously, negotiations regarding the restructuring of ordinary wages and collective agreements had been underway between the Seoul city bus unions and management, but no agreement was reached. Negotiations were suspended following the failure of the second mediation meeting held by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission on the 29th of last month.
In response, the Seoul city bus union conducted a lawful struggle (lawful operation) for one day on the 30th of last month, and after resuming normal operation during the subsequent holiday period, they restarted the lawful struggle on the 7th of this month. The Seoul city bus union plans to continue the lawful struggle until the deadline for agreement on the 27th.
The Seoul Bus Union stated, “We will maintain safe operation (lawful operation) until May 27, but we will determine specific methods of protest on our own prior to the 27th,” adding, “If Seoul City and management do not engage in negotiations in good faith or continue to make unilateral demands to abandon ordinary wages, we will escalate our level of protest, including initiating a partial strike before May 28.”
◇ Conflict intensifies between Seoul City and bus unions… sharpening over 'lawful operation'
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Seoul Bus Union released an appeal titled “Please support the lawful safe operation of Seoul city bus drivers,” stating, “Regardless of the outcome of negotiations, our goal is to continue lawful operation to create a safe transportation culture,” asserting that there had been difficulties in maintaining lawful operation due to having to follow Seoul City’s directives unreasonably.
The Seoul Bus Union commented, “We have been in a reality where we cannot fully comply with regulations due to Seoul City’s guidelines on punctuality and the company's directives to maintain bus dispatch intervals,” adding, “When dispatch intervals widen, the company receives penalties in the city evaluation, which leads to disciplinary actions against bus drivers, resulting in wage losses of over 500,000 won for just one day of suspension.”
In response, Seoul City issued a rebuttal, stating, “The union’s claim that Seoul City has coerced bus drivers into unlawful driving, necessitating the implementation of lawful struggles is a distortion of the facts,” and added, “Seoul City has continuously provided administrative guidance to ensure that the results of company evaluations are not used as means for disciplining transportation workers.”
Furthermore, it stated, “The current lawful struggle being conducted by the union has not significantly worsened the actual city bus usage environment, which is evidence that the culture of lawful operation is becoming ingrained in the city bus industry,” criticizing, “Rather, some drivers are intentionally delaying operations, holding citizens' movement rights hostage by demanding excessive wage increases, while the vast majority of drivers who have faithfully performed safe operations are being labeled as if they have engaged in unlawful driving.”