Seoul's bus labor union to strike Thursday over wage hike

Buses pass near Seoul Station in downtown Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Seoul’s bus labor union on Tuesday agreed to go on strike this week.

Seoul bus union to strike Thursday if wage hike deal fails

Over 98 percent of the members voted for the general strike, a day after the union announced to stage a walkout starting 4 a.m. Thursday if the majority of the members agreed. The labor union under the Korea Automobile and Transport Workers’ Federation comprises of nearly 18,000 members from 65 companies.

The vote on Tuesday comes after the labor union failed to reach a wage agreement with the city government.

The union has demanded wage hikes, a revision of the salary system and the abolition of compensation discrimination for contract workers since late December.

Despite seven rounds of negotiations, the union and the city government, representing the management of buses in the capital, failed to reach an agreement. The unionized workers specifically requested a 12.7 percent increase in their hourly wage.

Following the vote, the city government rolled out emergency plans to minimize commuter chaos during rush hours if the bus drivers stage a walkout.

Subways will additionally operate 202 times a day from Thursday and will extend their hours until 2 a.m.

The city government will deploy personnel to 17 major stations, including Jamsil Station and Seoul Station, to manage overcrowding.

Free shuttle buses will also operate from major subway stations across the capital's 25 districts.

In anticipation of strike, the metropolitan government said it will also request companies and schools to adjust starting times by an hour in the morning.

The city government said it would "exert all efforts [to find] an agreement between the labor union and bus companies" and also "monitor traffic regularly to minimize inconvenience."

The labor union will undergo final negotiations during a Seoul National Labor Relations Commission meeting on Wednesday and will go on strike if an agreement is not reached.

If the strike takes place, it will become the first walkout staged by bus drivers in the capital since 2012.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]