National Bus Union to Go on General Strike from 28th if Negotiations Fail

Bus unions from 22 regions nationwide, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Busan, have announced that they will go on a general strike starting from the 28th if labor-management negotiations break down.

On the 8th, Seo Jong-soo, chairman of the National Automobile Workers' Federation, held a meeting with representatives and stated, "Each regional union under the federation will file simultaneous mediation applications on the 12th and will do their utmost to negotiate during the 15-day mediation period." He added, "If no agreement can be reached, we will begin a nationwide strike from the first bus on the 28th."

He continued, "The union will place all proposals on the negotiation table and approach the talks with an open attitude to minimize inconvenience to citizens."

The representatives' meeting held on that day was convened to determine a joint response direction regarding the recently raised issue of normal wage restructuring in major regional bus unions.

Meanwhile, the labor and management of Seoul's city buses continue their wage and collective agreement negotiations, but they have yet to reach an agreement.

In particular, the second mediation meeting held on the 29th of last month by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission ended without a resolution, and official negotiations between labor and management have also been suspended.

On the 30th of the same month, the Seoul city bus union conducted a legal strike (lawful operation) and resumed the legal strike again starting from the 7th.

Image Source: Seo Jong-soo, chairman of the National Automobile Workers' Federation, holding a representative meeting with union chairpersons from 22 regions, including Seoul, on the 8th at the federation's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul / News1, News1