April 19, 2024
Automobiles
Hyundai Motor unionists start 2nd partial strike
[THE INVESTOR] Union members of Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s No. 1 automaker will stage a second partial strike on Aug. 14, after labor talks with the management over wage hikes and job security failed.
Union leaders said workers on the early shift would stage a strike for two hours beginning at 1:30 p.m. Workers of the following shift will walk out for two hours at 10:30 p.m.
The unionists previously staged a two-hour strike on Aug. 10.
The unionists also refused weekend work shifts last week. This is the sixth consecutive year that the automaker’s unionists have gone on strike during pay negotiations.
Hyundai’s union is demanding an increase of 154,883 won (US$136) in monthly salary on top of an automatic annual hike and 30 percent of the company’s 2016 net profit in bonuses. Workers also want to be guaranteed their jobs regardless of factory line changes from technological and industrial advancements.
Other demands include more social contributions, the reinstatement of fired employees and a welfare center for retirees.
Union leaders and the carmaker’s management are scheduled to meet on Aug. 16 to narrow their differences.
Hyundai Motor is faring ill in its large overseas markets, such as the United States and China.
The company saw its US sales decline this year from 2016 on slowing demand, with domestic sales remaining in the doldrums due to sluggish shipments of SUVs.
Hyundai Motor’s sales in China have been hit hard by the ongoing row over South Korea’s deployment of an advanced US missile shield called THAAD.
Hyundai Motor’s second-quarter operating profit tumbled 23.7 percent on-year to 1.34 trillion won, with its bottom line plunging 48.2 percent to 913.
By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)
Union leaders said workers on the early shift would stage a strike for two hours beginning at 1:30 p.m. Workers of the following shift will walk out for two hours at 10:30 p.m.
The unionists previously staged a two-hour strike on Aug. 10.
The unionists also refused weekend work shifts last week. This is the sixth consecutive year that the automaker’s unionists have gone on strike during pay negotiations.
Hyundai’s union is demanding an increase of 154,883 won (US$136) in monthly salary on top of an automatic annual hike and 30 percent of the company’s 2016 net profit in bonuses. Workers also want to be guaranteed their jobs regardless of factory line changes from technological and industrial advancements.
Other demands include more social contributions, the reinstatement of fired employees and a welfare center for retirees.
Union leaders and the carmaker’s management are scheduled to meet on Aug. 16 to narrow their differences.
Hyundai Motor is faring ill in its large overseas markets, such as the United States and China.
The company saw its US sales decline this year from 2016 on slowing demand, with domestic sales remaining in the doldrums due to sluggish shipments of SUVs.
Hyundai Motor’s sales in China have been hit hard by the ongoing row over South Korea’s deployment of an advanced US missile shield called THAAD.
Hyundai Motor’s second-quarter operating profit tumbled 23.7 percent on-year to 1.34 trillion won, with its bottom line plunging 48.2 percent to 913.
By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)
