Notices

Seoul City Bus Labor-Management Negotiations Concluded and Strike Called Off:

On September 16, 2026, the collective bargaining negotiations between Seoul city bus operators and the city bus labor union were concluded, resulting in the cancellation of the planned strike.

The labor and management parties agreed to a 3.2% wage increase. In addition, regarding the monthly contractual working hours, which had been a major issue during the negotiations, they agreed to maintain the current standard of 209 hours until a court ruling is issued.

For reference, Dong-A Transportation’s city buses have established the monthly contractual working hours as 176 hours, and the Supreme Court has recognized this arrangement on the grounds that it was established through a collective agreement as a working condition agreed upon by labor and management.

Accordingly, a key issue has emerged as to whether the standard monthly working hours used for calculating ordinary wages should be 176 hours or 209 hours. This is because the 209-hour standard includes 8 hours of paid weekly holiday hours, even though employees do not actually perform work during those hours.

Ultimately, the core issue is whether the 8 hours of paid weekly holiday time can be included in the monthly contractual working hours. This matter is expected to remain an important issue to watch, as future court decisions may provide new interpretations.