Seoul City Bus Union to Strike from First Bus on the 16th... Collective Bargaining Breakdown

Application for Mediation Submitted to Regional Labor Commission; Strike Planned if Talks Fail

"Employers Are Forcing Workers to Give Up Their Rights," Union Claims

Most Seoul city buses have halted operation as the Seoul City Bus Labor Union launched an indefinite full strike on the 13th. A citizen is checking a notice about the bus strike at a bus stop near Seoul Station. 2026.01.13 Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

The Seoul City Bus Labor Union has announced that it will launch a full-scale strike starting with the first buses on September 16.

The Seoul City Bus Labor Union, a member of the National Automobile Workers Federation, stated on the 3rd, "We have held nine rounds of collective bargaining negotiations with management since March for the 2026 contract, but the talks have ultimately broken down due to the company's insincere attitude and uncommitted proposals."

The union added, "We have applied for mediation to the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission," and warned, "If mediation fails to resolve the dispute, we will launch a full strike of all Seoul city buses beginning with the first buses on September 16 and engage in an all-out struggle."

The union argued, "Other municipal governments operating semi-public bus systems completed wage negotiations in line with last year's Supreme Court ruling and agreed on a wage increase in the 5% range this year, while Seoul's bus company owners, despite reaping massive profits and dividends, are only forcing workers to give up their rights."

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