Gyeonggi bus labor and management extend mediation deadline by 3 hours on eve of general strike
Labor and management at 29 bus companies in Gyeonggi Province agreed to continue last-minute negotiations at midnight on the 29th, just hours before a general strike. At the management's request, the mediation deadline of the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission, which helps the two sides reach a final agreement, was extended by three hours until 3 a.m. on the 30th. Without a settlement, commuters across the province could face disruptions, drawing keen attention to the outcome of the talks.
According to the Gyeonggi Regional Auto Workers' Union under the Federation of Korean Auto Workers' Unions (FKTU), the two sides began negotiations at 3 p.m. on the 29th, adjourned for internal discussions, and were set to resume talks at 2 a.m. on the 30th. If no agreement is reached by the extended deadline, the union plans to launch a full-scale general strike starting with the first buses on the 30th.
The strike would cover 4,130 buses (854 routes) operated by 29 companies in the province, including those in Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, and Seongnam, as well as 942 buses on 63 metropolitan routes connecting Seoul and the capital region. Companies under KD Transportation Group, the province's largest operator, were excluded from the strike as they are conducting separate independent negotiations.
The two sides are at odds over how to implement the agreement to bring Gyeonggi bus wages in line with Seoul's by January 1, 2026. The union has demanded wage increases of 21.56% for companies under semi-public operation and 30% for privately operated ones, along with shorter working hours. Management, however, has balked, citing the deteriorating fiscal conditions of Gyeonggi Province, arguing that provincial-level guarantees are needed to ensure follow-through on implementation.
Gyeonggi Province, local governments, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education will operate an emergency transport task force in case negotiations collapse. If a strike materializes, they plan to deploy charter and official buses at 160 major hubs and allow schools to flexibly adjust start and dismissal times, among other measures.
