Gyeonggi Bus Drivers Back a Walkout by 97.7% Ahead of Final Mediation

Bus drivers in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province have voted overwhelmingly to strike, with walkouts set to begin with the first buses on Oct. 30 if a final mediation session on Oct. 29 does not produce an agreement, the Seoul Economic Daily reported on Oct. 23.

The dispute centers on pay parity with Seoul's bus drivers and the long hours drivers say they work.

The Vote

The Gyeonggi Regional Automobile Workers' Union held the ballot on Oct. 23 at each workplace from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Seoul Economic Daily.

Of 9,420 union members at 29 bus companies, 9,001 voted, a turnout of 95.6%. There were 8,792 votes in favor and 209 against, or 97.7% in favor.

Union chairperson Lee Gi-cheon said, "Rights are never given for free," according to Chosun Biz, adding that the union would "harness the overwhelming 97.7% support" heading toward the planned strike.

What Drivers Are Asking For

The union wants employers to honor an earlier agreement among labor, management and government to bring wages in line with those of Seoul bus drivers by Jan. 1, 2026. Citing a wage gap that widened after a recent Supreme Court ruling on ordinary wages for Seoul drivers, it is seeking raises of 21.56% on quasi public routes and 30% on privately operated routes.

The union is also pressing on hours. It said members work about 2,400 hours a year, about 1.4 times the national average, and is asking for a 4.5 day workweek on quasi public routes and one fewer working day a month on private routes. Other demands include a paid bonus for accident free drivers and flu vaccinations for all members. Chosun Biz reported that the union is also seeking guaranteed two consecutive days off and paid health leave for female members.

Chosun Biz described the pay parity pledge as part of a 2024 tripartite agreement, and the union argues that the promise to align Gyeonggi wages with Seoul levels must now be honored.

Employers are calling for a wage freeze on privately operated routes, citing the province's weaker finances, and had not presented a specific proposal for quasi public routes, according to the report.

How Mediation Works From Here

The union declared talks broken off at the fifth round of central bargaining on Oct. 14 and filed for mediation with the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission the same day. The commission's mediation period runs 15 days and ends on Oct. 29. The first session was held on Oct. 23, and the final session is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Oct. 29.

What Is at Stake for Commuters

If the strike goes ahead, 4,130 buses on 854 routes run by 29 companies in cities including Suwon, Yongin, Goyang and Seongnam would stop, including 942 buses on 63 express routes, the Seoul Economic Daily reported. Chosun Biz reported that the affected fleet makes up 46% of all route buses in Gyeonggi and that the metropolitan express routes carry commuters into the greater Seoul area, making disruption for those riders likely if the strike begins.

For commuters, the practical window is short. The final mediation session is scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 29, and the walkout would begin with the first buses the next morning.

What It Means for Workers Elsewhere

The Gyeonggi dispute links two issues many workers watch closely: pay parity with peers doing the same job in a neighboring city, and the length of the working year. A turnout above 95% gives the union a strong mandate heading into mediation, while employers point to public finances. The outcome on Oct. 29 will decide whether millions of daily trips across the province are disrupted.