The Seoul city bus labor union said on the 3rd, "We have applied for dispute mediation to the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission, and if mediation is not reached, we declare that we will launch a full strike starting with the first bus on the 16th."
According to the Seoul city bus union, the union has been holding 2026 collective bargaining talks with management, the Seoul Bus Transport Business Association, since March. But even after a total of nine rounds of talks, they failed to reach a conclusion.
In response, the union applied for dispute mediation to the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission on Aug. 31. After that, the Seoul city bus labor and management sides will go through a first mediation meeting on the 9th, a strike vote by union members on the 11th, and a second mediation meeting on the 15th. If mediation is not reached during this period, the union will meet the conditions to launch industrial action, including a strike.
If talks break down, the union plans a full strike starting with the first bus on the 16th.
Union leader Park Jeom-gon said, "If management breaks its promise to reach an agreement and continues maneuvers to push a real wage cut, the Seoul city bus union will have no choice but to launch a powerful general strike with the united strength of all members," and added, "We will certainly stop the outrageous actions of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and management that force only workers to sacrifice, regain our legitimate rights, and win the 2026 wage increase rate at or above the level of other semi-public operation regions in line with Seoul prices."