Seoul city bus workers are continuing late-night wage and collective bargaining negotiations ahead of a threatened strike, with unions warning they will walk off the job for the first morning departures if an agreement is not reached by midnight, according to reports.
Negotiations and Core Wage Dispute Factors
The Seoul City Bus Transport Association, representing 64 bus companies, and the Seoul City Bus Labor Union have been engaged in a second round of labor dispute adjustment procedures since the afternoon under the mediation of the Special Adjustment Committee of the Seoul Regional Labor Commission. Although union figures left the negotiation room late in the evening, union representatives stated they would wait for management proposals until midnight. The two sides have held nine rounds of negotiations since March without narrowing their differences, prompting the union to file for labor dispute adjustment with the commission.
The core issue driving the labor conflict is the wage increase scale required to reflect a December Supreme Court ruling stating that regular bonuses must be counted as ordinary wages.
Did You Know? The ongoing labor dispute centers around a landmark December Supreme Court ruling determining that regular bonuses count toward ordinary wages, directly altering how transport worker pay scales are calculated.
City Contingency Plans and Transit Mitigations
To reduce commuter inconvenience if a walkout occurs, the Seoul government plans to deploy approximately 1,500 free chartered buses connecting major residential hubs to subway stations. Among these vehicles, 200 units will support passenger movement along major corridors including Gangnam-daero, Tongil-ro, and Dobong-ro. Subway operating intervals will be shortened during extended rush hours running from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., while late-night trains will extend operations until 2 a.m. the following day based on terminal departure times.
In anticipation of increased private vehicle usage, authorities plan to temporarily suspend roadside bus-only lanes to permit general traffic, while public bicycles known as Ttareungi will be made available for free use. Earlier, the city government sent official documents to major economic organizations including the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Seoul Regional Headquarters of the Korea Federation of Small and Business, requesting member participation in adjusting morning arrival times and utilizing flexible work arrangements. The Seoul Office of Education also received requests to coordinate attendance hours for elementary, middle, and high school students along with staggered work hours for school staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the potential bus strike begin?
The union plans to launch a strike starting with the 4 a.m. first departures if a final agreement is not reached by midnight.
What is the primary disagreement between the union and management?
The core dispute involves the wage increase scale stemming from the December Supreme Court ruling that classifies regular bonuses as ordinary wages.
What alternative transportation measures are available during a strike?
The city will deploy about 1,500 free chartered buses, extend subway rush-hour intervals and late-night train operations, suspend roadside bus-only lane restrictions for general cars, and offer free access to public bicycles.
How will your daily commute be affected if the Seoul bus union moves forward with the morning walkout?
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