Seoul: Unionized bus workers in Seoul, Busan, Ulsan, and Changwon have entered critical wage negotiations with their management teams, as a general strike looms if talks do not succeed. The urgent discussions began on Tuesday, with just a day left before the unionized workers' threatened strike could disrupt bus services.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Automobile and Transport Workers' Federation indicated that both sides started their last-minute talks between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. However, as of 4 p.m., they had not reached an agreement regarding a wage increase, raising concerns about a potential walkout. If no agreement is made, the strike could heavily impact bus schedules, with disruptions starting as early as Wednesday morning.
The strike is expected to affect 61 of Seoul's 64 intracity bus companies, which operate approximately 7,000 buses on 389 routes, significantly inconveniencing both citizens and commuters. This situation echoes last year's events when unionized workers in Seoul went on strike for the first time in 12 years due to failed wage negotiations.
Unionized workers are demanding an 8.2 percent increase in their base pay. Meanwhile, management argues that the proposed increase could effectively raise wages by 25 percent, considering regular bonuses would be included in the ordinary wage following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
In response to the potential strike, the Seoul city government has announced plans to increase subway services by 173 trips per day during peak commuting hours. Additionally, free shuttle buses will be available to transport commuters between major locations and subway stations to alleviate disruptions.
Changwon, heavily reliant on buses as the sole means of public transportation, is preparing to deploy around 180 buses and 330 taxis if the strike occurs. Similarly, the city of Ulsan is planning measures such as expanding taxi services and increasing public parking availability, according to municipal officials.