Seoul City Bus Union Approves Strike Vote by 88%; Full Strike Set for the 16th

[Financial News] Seoul city bus drivers have approved strike action, making a full strike on the 16th possible.
The Seoul City Bus Labor Union of the National Automobile Workers’ Union Federation said on the 11th that a vote on industrial action was held at bus companies across the city. Of the 18,296 union members, 16,716 voted: 16,089 were in favor, 575 opposed, 1,580 abstained, and 52 ballots were invalid. The motion passed.
The approval rate was 87.94% of all union members.
With the vote approved, the union secured the legal right to strike. If negotiations with management fail to reach a final agreement at the second mediation meeting scheduled for the 15th, the union plans to begin a full strike from the first bus service on the following day, the 16th.
Union Chairman Park Jeom-gon emphasized, "If management continues its scheme to break its promise to reach an agreement and pursue real-term wage cuts, we will have no choice but to launch a powerful general strike through the united strength of all union members. We will reclaim our legitimate rights in opposition to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and management, which are forcing workers alone to make sacrifices, and secure this year’s wage increase at a level at least equal to that in other regions operating under a semi-public bus system, in line with Seoul’s cost of living."
[email protected] Park Kyung-ho Reporter