<Anchor> The
Gyeonggi bus union had a final negotiation with the management over whether to go on a general strike, but news has just arrived that the negotiation has failed.
I will connect you with a reporter who is out on the negotiating table.
Reporter Han So-hee, how did the negotiations go now?
<Reporter>
Yes, Gyeonggi-do bus management went to a mediation meeting at the Gyeonggi Provincial Labor Relations Committee here yesterday (29th) from 3 pm to 9 hours.
At 11:59 pm last night, one minute before the deadline for negotiations, the union announced that it would launch a general strike, saying that the negotiations had finally broken down.
About 8, 90% of all route buses in Gyeonggi-do, including regional buses between Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, will stop operating from the first train at 4 am.
The bus union has been insisting on the full implementation of the quasi-public system in Gyeonggi-do, but Gyeonggi-do said it would mediate the strike and promised to fully expand the quasi-public system within the term of the governor, so wages remain an issue.
The union agreed to a 17-22% wage increase to close the gap with Seoul, a two-shift system a day to avoid long hours of driving more than 17 hours a day, and a collective agreement to pay drivers for coronavirus paid leave and apprenticeship fees. I've been asking for revisions.
The management is in a situation where there is a difference of position with the union, saying that there are great management difficulties due to the rise in oil prices.
Gyeonggi Province plans to use up to 380 chartered buses this morning and mobilize 1,370 city and village buses that do not participate in the strike.