Amid doctors' protests, Seoul's bus union announces strike over wage dispute

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Following crippling protests by medics across South Korea, the union of city bus drivers on Monday announced that it will launch a general strike later this week after failing to reach a deal on wage rise with the Seoul city government.

The Seoul Bus Labor Union, which comprises around 18,000 members at 65 companies, said the drivers will launch the walkout on Thursday, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The union's demands include wage increases, revision of the salary system and the abolition of wage discrimination for contract workers.

Despite seven rounds of talks over the past three months, the union has failed to narrow differences with the city government.

Meanwhile, over 90% of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors have been on strike since Feb. 20 to protest the government's decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats.