Incheon Transit Corporation bus driver dismissals upheld by court

The Seoul High Court has upheld the dismissal of two bus drivers from the Incheon Transit Corporation. The drivers had repeatedly and intentionally delayed bus operations in protest against a 2022 route reallocation policy.

The drivers argued that the reallocation, which moved them from preferred to less desirable routes, was a retaliatory measure following their union involvement and wage litigation. They also claimed that delays were necessary to comply with safety speeds and mandatory rest periods.

However, the court rejected these claims, noting that the drivers could have maintained the schedule by traveling at an average speed of 14.23 km/h, even after accounting for legal rest times. The court ruled that the intentional delays were equivalent to refusing dispatch orders, which constitutes a failure to fulfill work obligations. The ruling emphasized that such actions caused inconvenience to residents and potential harm to other drivers attempting to maintain schedules.