Seoul's city bus union sets 9 p.m. Tuesday deadline for strike

Seoul's unionized city bus workers have set a deadline of 9 p.m. on Tuesday to continue negotiations, threatening to go on strike the following morning if no agreement is reached. The dispute revolves around the calculation of hourly wage rates, with the union proposing to include regular bonuses in ordinary wages and raising wages by 7.85 percent based on a standard of 176 monthly work hours.

Bus companies and the Seoul city government, however, reject this demand, arguing that it would equate to a wage increase of around 16 percent. The union is prepared to launch a general strike, beginning with the first buses at 4 a.m. on Wednesday if the talks fail by the 9 p.m. Tuesday deadline. Union deputy secretary-general Yoo Jae-ho stated that the union is not solely focused on the 7.85 percent wage increase and would consider reaching an agreement if the 176 monthly work hour standard is accepted. Some other regions have also implemented wage increases exceeding 5 percent.