Seoul City Bus Union Ends Lawful Protest After One Day
The Seoul City Bus Labor Union has decided to end its "lawful protest," which started from the first bus on the 30th of last month, just one day after it began, exceeding the legal adjustment deadline for wage and collective bargaining negotiations.
The union will return to normal operations starting today (the 1st), as the holiday begins, and plans to gather national union representatives to decide on a final strike on the 8th, after the holiday ends.
The Seoul City Bus Labor Union initiated the lawful protest from the first bus on the morning of the 30th, but it has been reported that there was no significant inconvenience for citizens.
A union official stated, "Some citizens were unaware of the lawful protest occurring in certain regions," and added, "From tomorrow, we will resume normal operations during the holiday period."
The union claims that they are continuing behind-the-scenes negotiations with the management to avoid chaos during the commuting hours. Although a 9-hour marathon negotiation that extended from the previous day ultimately broke down without closing the gap between positions, the choice of lawful protest instead of the previously announced "strike and other disputes" indicates a change in the internal atmosphere.
The so-called "safety struggle," referred to as a lawful protest, is a lower-level means of protest than a strike. In a lawful protest, bus operations are maintained while adhering strictly to the Seoul city’s safe operation manual, avoiding sudden starts, stops, lane changes, or door openings, and maintaining stopping or resting times.
A union official explained, "The safety struggle, known as lawful protest, is not included in the list of dispute actions, hence it remains free from criminal punishment."
Previously, the labor and management could not narrow their differences on the issue of ordinary wages. The disagreement arose over the scope of ordinary wages following a Supreme Court ruling at the end of last year. Management asserts that the legal framework has changed; therefore, the wage structure needs to be revised, while the union argues that the inclusion of regular bonuses as ordinary wages falls under Seoul's obligations according to Supreme Court precedent and is not negotiable.
The union has demanded a △ 8.2% increase in the basic wage △ elimination of wage discrimination for equal work △ extension of the current retirement age from 63 to 65 years.
On the other hand, the Seoul City Bus Transportation Business Association, representing management, stated, "We absolutely cannot accept the union's claims regarding ordinary wages," emphasizing, "This is about creating new standards and adjusting the costs of last year's basic wages, bonuses, and allowances to verify sustainability, not about reducing wages." They also added, "Currently, we are not engaged in any behind-the-scenes negotiations with the union."
The union plans to maintain normal city bus operations during the upcoming weekends, Buddha's Birthday, and the Children's Day substitute holiday, while continuing behind-the-scenes negotiations with the management.
Due to the longer intervals between bus departures during the holiday period, there was also a realistic concern that the lawful protest would not have any noticeable effect. The union identified the upcoming meeting of regional representatives from the National Auto Workers Union on the 8th as the next critical point in negotiations.
A union representative stated, "We urge management and Seoul City to engage in honest negotiations and will decide on the strike at the National Auto Workers Union's regional representatives meeting on the 8th," adding, "Local governments that have opted for quasi-public operations are trying to align wages and treatment similarly, so representatives from unions in Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Busan have also expressed dissatisfaction with Seoul's actions."
Image source: News1, Park Jeom-gon, Chairman of the Seoul City Bus Labor Union / News1
