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4d ago

Seoul Bus Drivers Resume Work-to-Rule Protest as Wage Talks Stall

Drivers strictly adhere to safety protocols, with the union weighing a full strike by Thursday if demands for pay increases and retirement age adjustments remain unmet.

An electronic panel at a bus stop in central Seoul notifies passengers of a "work-to-rule" protest by unionized bus drivers in the capital city on April 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • Unionized bus drivers in Seoul resumed their work-to-rule protest on May 7, causing minimal disruption to bus services so far.
  • The union demands an 8.2% base pay increase and a retirement age extension from 63 to 65, while management seeks wage system reforms that would lower the standard wage.
  • To mitigate commuter inconvenience, the city has extended subway morning rush hours, added 47 extra trains, and deployed monitors to key bus stops.
  • The union and management have not returned to negotiations since talks collapsed last week, with the union expected to decide on a full strike by Thursday if no progress is made.
  • Other cities like Busan and Incheon are closely following Seoul's dispute, as its resolution may set a precedent for similar wage-related conflicts under a Supreme Court ruling.