SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Unionized bus drivers in Gyeonggi Province withdrew their strike plan on Wednesday after reaching a last-minute settlement with their employers.
The two sides agreed to a 7 percent wage increase, lower than the unions’ original demands of 12.32 percent and 21.86 percent, following a 12-hour negotiation that concluded at 3 a.m.
The federation of unions, which represents 16,000 drivers from 45 companies in the province surrounding Seoul, had planned to launch a walkout at 4 a.m. if no agreement had been reached.
The organization also demanded the removal of a clause allowing a six-month grace period before transitioning to a two-shift system, but management rejected it.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the site after the agreement was reached and expressed his appreciation to the negotiators.
"On behalf of the 14.1 million residents, I thank both labor and management for ensuring a seamless commute to school and work," Kim said.
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