Seoul Bus Labor and Management Enter Second Mediation Round; Strike to Begin Tomorrow Morning If Talks Collapse

[Anchor]

Seoul city bus labor and management entered their second round of mediation meetings starting at 2 p.m. today (September 15) over the application method for regular wages and the wage increase rate. If they fail to find common ground, the union plans to launch a full-scale strike starting with the first buses tomorrow. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has prepared emergency transport measures, including deploying 1,500 free shuttle buses and increasing subway services.

Reporter Yun Nara has the details.

[Reporter]

The Seoul city bus labor and management have entered the second mediation meeting at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission.

During the first mediation meeting on the 9th, both sides failed to find common ground regarding the method for calculating regular wages and the wage increase rate.

The union is demanding that the standard hours for calculating regular wages be set at 176 hours, in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling in the Dong-A Transport case last April, along with a 7.85% wage increase.

However, management stated that they cannot accept the 176-hour standard because the remand trial for the Dong-A Transport case is still ongoing, instead proposing a wage system overhaul based on 209 hours and a 10.32% wage increase.

The lower the standard hours used to calculate hourly rates from monthly regular wages, the more wages must be paid, making it more favorable to the union.

The union plans to go on strike starting with the first buses tomorrow if an agreement is not reached today.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced emergency transport measures in preparation for the strike and held an emergency inspection meeting this morning.

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: (Seoul) will respond responsibly to protect the movement and safety of our citizens. To ensure that citizens can continue their daily lives with peace of mind, I will personally oversee the situation from start to finish.]

The city decided to deploy up to 1,500 free chartered buses, increase subway operations by 202 trips per day, open curbside bus-only lanes to general vehicles, and utilize town buses as alternative transportation.

In addition, the city has requested schools and public institutions across Seoul to delay school attendance and working hours by one hour.

The Seoul bus union also staged a two-day strike last January, demanding changes to the regular wage application method and a wage hike.

(Video Editing: Park Ji-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.