The labor union of Kanto Bus, which operates mainly in western Tokyo, had announced a strike on the 27th, but it was averted after negotiations.
In this year’s spring wage negotiations, the Kanto Bus labor union had demanded wage increases and the payment of temporary wages from the company, citing a large number of employees leaving due to low wages and long working hours, and stating that “the labor shortage makes it impossible to maintain transportation in the region.”
However, since the company did not respond to their demands, they announced that they would “go on strike from the first bus on the 27th until the end of the day.” If the strike had been carried out, 7,265 bus routes would have been canceled, affecting approximately 140,000 people. However, after continued negotiations with the company, it was decided that “the company has agreed to the demands,” and the strike was averted. Kanto Bus announced on its website at midnight on the 27th that “buses will operate as usual.”
The Kanto Bus labor union commented to the press that “the bus industry is still plagued by long working hours and low wages, but we will continue to demand that transportation in the region and the livelihoods of our employees be protected.”
