Buses in Seoul were running smoothly Friday after unionized drivers struck a last-minute wage deal with management and scrapped plans to strike.
The breakthrough agreement came after marathon talks between the union and management, who agreed to a 3.5 percent wage increase and a 40,000 won (US$34) increase in extra pay for accident-free driving, officials said.
Plans to strike from 4 a.m. were called off and all 7,400 or more buses in the city were running on schedule.
The union had demanded a 9.5 percent pay raise, citing an increase in public transportation fares that took effect in late February.
The management insisted on a wage freeze, saying it could not afford a pay raise.
The Seoul municipal government said it has canceled all emergency transport measures it put in place to minimize disruption from a strike.
"(We) apologize for causing trouble to citizens," said Yun Jun-byeong, a city official in charge of traffic. "(We) thank the drivers for holding on to their sense of responsibility until the end. (We) hope the union and management will strengthen their unity and improve safety and their (quality of) service to citizens." (Yonhap)