National Automobile Workers’ Union Regional Representatives’ Meeting on May 8
“Possibility of Joint Strike Depending on Resolution”
Ordinary Wage Dispute Continues... Management Cites “Feasibility Issues”
The impact of the breakdown in wage and collective bargaining agreement negotiations between labor and management of Seoul city buses is becoming prolonged. As the union resumed lawful operation from the first bus on the morning of May 7, the National Automobile Workers’ Union is scheduled to discuss the possibility of expanding industrial action at a regional representatives’ meeting on May 8.
On May 7, the Seoul City Bus Union, under the National Automobile Workers’ Union Federation, resumed lawful operation by strictly adhering to the manual, such as departing only after all passengers are seated. Previously, after the final mediation by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission broke down, the union had carried out lawful operation on April 30, but suspended it as the holiday period began.
On April 30, as negotiations between labor and management of Seoul city buses broke down and the union began a lawful operation strike, a notice related to the strike was posted on a bus at the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2025.4.30. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
There is also a possibility that the union may decide to expand industrial action, including a general strike. The union will hold a regional representatives’ meeting at 11 a.m. on May 8 at the office of the National Automobile Workers’ Union Federation in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to discuss issues such as the ordinary wage dispute between labor and management of Seoul city buses. A union official stated, “We feel a sense of crisis, thinking that this is not just a problem unique to Seoul,” and added, “Depending on the resolution of regional representatives nationwide, a joint strike could be carried out.”
Labor and management of Seoul city buses remain at odds over whether to include regular bonuses in the calculation of ordinary wages. This dispute stems from a Supreme Court en banc ruling in December 2024, which held that regular bonuses should be included in ordinary wages. The union argues that this issue is currently under review by the courts and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and therefore cannot be addressed in the collective agreement. The union has also filed a petition with the Ministry of Employment and Labor regarding the ordinary wage issue.
The management, represented by the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association, maintains that the existing wage system was established on the premise that bonuses would not be included in ordinary wages, and that the wage system must be restructured in accordance with the Supreme Court’s change in legal interpretation. They also argue that including bonuses in ordinary wages without restructuring the wage system would make it financially unsustainable. An association official said, “According to Seoul city estimates, about 300 billion won in additional costs would be incurred, and we are considering whether that is realistic,” adding, “If Seoul city covers the deficit under the quasi-public operation system, it would mean less funding for other projects or that citizens would have to pay more.”
In response to the resumption of lawful operation, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has implemented special transportation measures. It extended the morning rush hour period for subways by one hour and increased the number of train operations on subway lines 1 to 8 and the Ui-Sinseol line by 47 runs. Additionally, after observing the so-called “bus train” phenomenon?caused by prolonged stops of preceding buses and intentional delays during the lawful operation on April 30?the city deployed public officials to major central bus-only lane stops to manage the situation on site.
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