Seoul City Bus Strike Begins... Emergency on the Morning Commute

6.1% Wage Increase Negotiation Breakdown
98% of All Buses on Strike
Commuting Chaos Feared, Emergency Measures Activated

The Seoul city bus union went on a full strike, causing bus operations to halt from the first run on the 28th.

The Seoul City Bus Labor Union (Bus Union) and the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association held their final adjustment meeting at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, starting at 3 p.m. the previous day. However, negotiations failed as no agreement was reached by the union's proposed deadline of midnight, and although post-adjustment was initiated, no agreement was made.

The main issue was the wage increase rate. The union demanded a 12.7% hourly wage increase, but the management rejected it as "excessive" and proposed a 2.5% increase, which is the level of civil servant wage hikes. The Regional Labor Relations Commission proposed a 6.1% increase, but ultimately failed to mediate successfully.

After the union decided on a full strike and left the negotiation table, 7,210 buses, accounting for 97% of all Seoul city buses, stopped operating from the first run at 4 a.m. that day.

Accordingly, confusion during the morning commute is inevitable. The Seoul city government has decided to activate emergency transportation measures.