"Strike Put on Hold, Union Urges Sincere Negotiations"
Work-to-Rule Action Begins with First Bus, Including Strict Adherence to Rest Breaks
Seoul City: "Please Actively Use Alternative Transportation"
As the labor and management of Seoul city buses failed to narrow their differences during the final mediation process, the union will begin a "work-to-rule" action starting with the first bus on April 30. As a result, a complete halt of Seoul city buses has been avoided, but there is a possibility of service delays.
The Seoul City Bus Union, part of the Korean Automobile & Transport Workers' Federation, announced at around 2 a.m. on April 30, "We have suspended mediation with management due to significant differences in our positions," adding, "We will begin a safe operation campaign, operating buses according to the usual manual as directed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government." The union also stated, "We are putting the strike on hold for now and will urge management and the city to engage in sincere negotiations."
Previously, the union and the management, represented by the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association, began their final mediation at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission at 5 p.m. on April 29. The two sides repeatedly adjourned and resumed talks past midnight, but ultimately failed to bridge their differences. The union explained, "The Labor Relations Commission presented a mediation proposal to freeze wages for this year just before midnight, which the union had no choice but to reject," adding, "Even the management side rejected the wage freeze proposal."
Unlike last year, when a "general strike" halted bus operations, this time the union is engaging in a work-to-rule industrial action, so buses will continue to run. The safe operation campaign mentioned by the union means strictly adhering to regulations, such as stopping in front of crosswalks and observing rest breaks. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said, "As work-to-rule actions are expected to cause reduced operating speeds and increased intervals between buses, we ask citizens to actively use alternative transportation such as the subway."
During the negotiations, the union had demanded an 8.2% wage increase and an extension of the retirement age to 65. Management argued that, following the Supreme Court's en banc decision in December 2023 requiring regular bonuses to be included in ordinary wages, the existing wage system?designed on the premise that bonuses were excluded?must be revised if the legal interpretation has changed. The union maintains that this issue cannot be addressed within the collective bargaining agreement.
Yeo Jangkwon, Director of Transportation at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "Although the worst-case scenario of a strike has been avoided, labor-management conflict is ongoing, and there is still a possibility that industrial action could escalate into a strike in the future. We will make every effort to ensure a prompt and amicable agreement between labor and management."
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