Commuters advised to brace for disruptions as unionized bus workers' strike looms

Yonhap

SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Unionized bus workers in Seoul are holding last-minute talks on Monday, just a day before their planned strike.

The eleventh-hour talks come after the workers issued an ultimatum for a strike slated for Tuesday, following a series of previous discussions that failed to narrow differences.

The main point of dispute is whether bonuses should be included in their wages. Rejecting an offer of a 10-percent increase in wages, the workers have been demanding that bonuses be calculated as part of their wages, arguing that it is not a bargaining issue but a legal requirement based on a Supreme Court ruling in December 2024.

They also said the proposed offer would effectively cut their pay, claiming it is an attempt to avoid a legally required 12.85 percent increase, which takes previously unpaid allowances into account.

The union added that a strike is inevitable as long as management continues to evade responsibility while ignoring the court's ruling and the Ministry of Employment and Labor's corrective orders.

With about 7,400 buses operating across Seoul, failure to reach an agreement could cause major disruptions starting with the first buses on Tuesday.

The union had previously threatened strikes in May and November last year, but called them off at the last minute.

To ease disruptions and minimize commuters' inconvenience, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to expand subway services and provide free shuttle buses linking to major subway stations across all 25 districts by deploying around 670 public and private vehicles.

In preparation for a possible prolonged strike, the city is also considering asking public agencies and private companies to delay working hours by one hour to help reduce rush-hour traffic.
Lee Hugh

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