SEOUL — In a significant move affecting public transportation, the Seoul Bus Labor Union has voted overwhelmingly to initiate a full-scale strike after failing to reach an agreement with the city government on wage increases.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the vote saw participation from 16,317 of its 18,133 members, with 98.3% in favor of the strike set to commence at 4 a.m. on Thursday. The dispute centers around demands for higher wages, revisions to the salary structure, and the elimination of wage discrimination against contract workers. Despite seven rounds of negotiations over the last three months, no resolution has been found. The union and the city government are scheduled for one last meeting on Wednesday in hopes of averting th e strike.
In anticipation of the possible transit disruption, the Seoul city government has announced plans to implement emergency measures. These include the increase and extension of subway services, particularly during peak travel times, to accommodate the expected increase in passengers.