Seoul: Unionized intracity bus workers in Seoul announced Wednesday their plans to initiate a general strike on January 13, following stagnant wage hike negotiations with management.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to strike was made during a morning meeting of chapter representatives from the bus union. Management has proposed a 10 percent increase in hourly wages, but the union rejected this proposal. They argue that it effectively results in a wage cut when considering recent court rulings that regular bonuses should be included in calculating ordinary wages.

The union insists that wage increases should be at 12.85 percent, accounting for unpaid allowances based on the updated ordinary wage standards. They have also filed a criminal complaint against management concerning these unpaid allowances.

The Seoul city government has stated that meeting the union's demands in full would lead to an annual increase of 150 billion won (US$103 million) in expenses. Intracity bus operations in Seoul and other large cities function under a semi-public management system, where the municipal government covers the losses incurred by bus companies.

Earlier this year, in May and November, the intracity bus union threatened to strike over wage disputes but did not follow through with the walkouts.