Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages

As wage negotiations between Seoul city bus labor and management broke down an announcement about the union’s “work-to-rule” action is displayed on a digital signboard at a bus stop in Yongsan District on the morning of Apr 30 YONHAP — As wage negotiations between Seoul city bus labor and management broke down, an announcement about the union’s “work-to-rule” action is displayed on a digital signboard at a bus stop in Yongsan District on the morning of Apr. 30. YONHAP

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action.

Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the second round of mediation broke down on April 29 at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission.

The union has secured the legal right to strike and is now openly considering it, frustrated by the lack of progress. “We chose a legal protest to avoid public disruption and keep talks going, but nothing has changed,” said a union official. “If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to move toward a full strike.”

The union will meet with representatives from the Korea Automobile Workers’ Union on May 8 to discuss specific strike plans. There is also a possibility of coordinating action with unions in other regions.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages

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