On the morning of the 5th, when the Gwangju city bus union started a full strike, citizens were waiting for buses at a bus stop in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
The Gwangju city bus union, which had temporarily suspended its strike during the Memorial Day holiday period, will resume an indefinite strike starting on June 9.
According to the Gwangju Regional Bus Union of the Korean Automobile & Transport Workers' Federation on June 8, the union will restart a full-scale strike from the first bus on June 9.
The union, which launched a full strike on June 5 due to conflicts over wage and collective bargaining negotiations, had lowered the intensity by suspending the strike and operating buses in compliance with regulations from June 6, demanding a negotiation proposal from management. However, it is reported that the management did not present any proposal during the three-day holiday period.
The union is demanding that wages be raised to the level of urban workers' living wages, specifically calling for an 8.2% annual salary increase (340,000 won per month for the fourth pay grade) and an extension of the retirement age to 65 in this year's negotiations. However, management is maintaining its position to freeze wages, citing operating deficits and other reasons.
As a result, the union plans to resume an indefinite full-scale strike, raising concerns that the situation may be prolonged. Of the total 2,400 city bus drivers, 1,400 union members will participate in the strike. However, the union has left room for future negotiations through mediation.
The Gwangju city government has prepared an emergency transportation plan by deploying the remaining 1,000 non-union drivers to achieve an operation rate of 70% (700 buses). If the strike is prolonged and driver fatigue accumulates, the city plans to maintain the 70% operation rate by introducing chartered buses.
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