Seoul: The Seoul metropolitan government announced plans to deploy up to 1,500 free shuttle buses this week as a contingency measure in response to a threatened strike by unionized city bus workers. This plan aims to mitigate potential traffic disruptions and commuter delays if the strike proceeds as planned.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the city bus workers' union voted last Friday to commence a strike on Wednesday if negotiations with management remain unresolved. In preparation, the city government has outlined a detailed transportation plan. Approximately 200 shuttle buses will operate between city wards, while an additional 1,300 will link key city hubs and residential areas to subway stations. This initiative represents a significant increase from the 700 shuttle buses used during a similar strike in January.
The government also intends to extend subway morning rush-hour services by two hours, operating from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and prolong late-night operations until 2 a.m. To further alleviate transportation challenges, the city's public bike service, Ttareungi, will be offered free of charge during the strike period.
At the heart of the dispute is the calculation of ordinary wages. The union has proposed basing these wages on 176 work hours and increasing hourly wages by 7.85 percent, a proposal bus operators have rejected.