Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that city bus labor and management reached a final wage and collective agreement after lengthy negotiations at the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission’s mediation meeting on August 25, allowing city buses to continue operating normally without the feared strike.

Labor and management began negotiations with their first meeting on January 8 and held 11 rounds of voluntary negotiations. However, they were unable to narrow their differences and subsequently applied for mediation with the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission. After five mediation meetings and several informal meetings to resolve outstanding issues, the two sides ultimately reached an agreement.

The negotiations concluded after more than 14 hours of discussions, with labor and management agreeing on key terms including a 4.5% increase in the base hourly wage, a KRW 15,000 increase in the no-accident allowance (from KRW 165,000 to KRW 180,000), and the elimination of the wage gap between commissioned employees working on city and metropolitan buses.

As a result, citizens can continue to use city buses as usual without any additional transportation disruptions, and public transportation services, including during rush hours, have remained fully operational.

The city government explained that the agreement was achieved through continued dialogue and mediation among labor, management, and the government, based on a shared understanding that disruptions to citizens should be minimized. The city also noted the significance of the agreement, as all parties reached an amicable settlement through mutual understanding and compromise despite concerns over a possible strike.

The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on improving the working conditions and job stability of bus operators. Along with the base hourly wage increase, the agreement includes an increase in the no-accident allowance and the elimination of the wage gap between commissioned employees working on city and metropolitan buses, which are expected to improve working conditions for frontline employees and help establish a stable foundation for city bus operations.

The city government plans to continue prioritizing citizens’ right to mobility and the stable provision of public transportation services while maintaining cooperation and communication among labor, management, and the government.

The Director of the Incheon Transportation Policy Bureau stated, “The conclusion of this wage and collective agreement is the result of joint efforts by labor, management, and the government to minimize inconvenience to citizens and maintain stable city bus operations. We will continue to work together to enhance the stability and public nature of public transportation services.”