Despite Breakdown in Talks, Union Reverses Position at General Meeting
Nearly 80 Percent Oppose Strike in Internal Vote
Difficult to Reach Agreement, Tensions Remain
The Seoul city bus union abruptly postponed the strike that was scheduled to begin with the first bus at 4 a.m. on the 28th. This decision was made because 78% of union members voted against the strike in an internal vote. The postponement came just a couple of hours after the union had declared a strike due to the breakdown of last-minute negotiations.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other sources on the 28th, the Seoul City Bus Labor Union held a general meeting of branch leaders at the union office in Yongsan-gu around 2 a.m. that day to discuss whether to proceed with the general strike, and made this decision.
The Seoul city bus union abruptly postponed the strike that was scheduled to begin with the first bus at 4 a.m. on the 28th. The photo shows a bus depot in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun
It is reported that, out of 63 eligible voters, 49 voted to 'postpone the strike.' Eleven voted in favor of the strike, and three abstained.
As a result, city buses that were scheduled to go on strike from the first bus of the day began operating normally. In a briefing, the union stated, "We determined that even if we went on strike, the attitude of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the employers?who insist that 'no discussion of wage increases or revision of the collective agreement will take place unless the wage system is reformed'?would not change."
Previously, labor and management of the city buses held last-minute negotiations at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in Yeongdeungpo-gu from 3 p.m. the previous day, but after about nine hours of marathon talks, they failed to reach an agreement and declared the negotiations had broken down at around 12:10 a.m. on the 28th. With negotiations breaking down, the union had planned to begin a general strike with the first bus at 4 a.m. that day.
In response to the union's decision to postpone the strike, the Seoul Bus Transportation Business Association, representing management, stated, "We sincerely welcome and thank the union for its decision to postpone the strike," and added, "We believe this decision will also be warmly received by Seoul citizens who head to work from the early morning." The Seoul Metropolitan Government also commented, "We are relieved that the postponement of the strike has minimized confusion for commuters," and added, "The city will continue to do everything possible to minimize inconvenience for citizens, preparing for any unexpected actions by the union."
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