The Seoul city bus union and management are facing a potential strike as they remain at an impasse over the criteria for applying ordinary wages.
On August 31, the National Automobile Workers Union's Seoul City Bus Union declared a breakdown in negotiations for the 2026 collective bargaining agreement and submitted a request for labor dispute mediation to the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. The union plans to convene an emergency committee to determine the level of collective action, including a possible strike.
The core issue in this conflict revolves around the recognition of regular bonuses as part of ordinary wages and the 'monthly standard hours' used for calculating allowances. The management, represented by the Seoul City Bus Operators Association, proposed a 10.3% increase in regular bonuses, in line with Supreme Court precedents. However, the union has labeled this as a de facto wage freeze and is demanding additional wage increases based on a reassessment of ordinary wages.
Additionally, the union argues that the standard hours for calculating hourly ordinary wages should be set at 176 hours, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines. In contrast, management insists on using 209 hours as a temporary measure until the outcome of the retrial is determined, leading to ongoing tensions between the two sides.
If an agreement is not reached within the 15-day mediation period, the Seoul city bus union is expected to proceed with strike preparations, which could lead to significant inconvenience for citizens.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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