Hyundai Motor Union Stages 3rd Day of Partial Strikes; Parts Supplier Unions Join In

The Hyundai Motor labor union continued its partial strike for the third consecutive day today, following difficulties in this year's wage negotiations.

With the addition of strikes by parts supplier unions, some production lines at Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant are expected to face disruptions of up to eight hours today.

In accordance with the union's directive for a two-hour strike, members of the morning shift for technical (production) roles left work at 1:30 p.m. today. Some of these members joined the general strike rally of the Ulsan branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held in front of Ulsan City Hall alongside the union leadership.

Actual production disruptions began earlier, around 11:30 a.m.

As the union of Motras, which supplies modules including electronic components, joined the general strike, the supply of parts became inconsistent, leading to a drop in the operation rate of some production lines at the Ulsan plant.

Production disruptions are expected to continue, as afternoon shift members from both Hyundai Motor and Motras are also scheduled to strike for two hours and four hours, respectively, today.

The Hyundai Motor union, which has held two-hour strikes for three consecutive days since July 13, plans to decide whether to stage additional strikes on July 16.

While labor and management continue to hold behind-the-scenes negotiations, there has been no significant progress since the company presented its third proposal on July 8.

The Hyundai Motor union has stated, "We will escalate the level of our strikes if the company does not present a forward-looking proposal."

Labor and management are currently at odds over issues including wage increases, expansion of bonuses, extension of the retirement age, and the reinstatement of members who were dismissed for illegal activities during past union activities.

Approximately 1,500 people, including not only Hyundai Motor union members but also workers from primary and secondary suppliers and subcontractors, gathered at the general strike rally of the Ulsan branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union held in front of Ulsan City Hall this afternoon.

Amid the sweltering heat, participants waved fans they had been given and chanted slogans such as "Abolish job insecurity" and "Win industry-level bargaining with the prime contractor."

Kim Ki-ho, head of the Ulsan branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, said, "We have stopped production and gathered on the hot asphalt to rectify the reality where the jobs and livelihoods of our members' families are shaken by a single word from the management," adding, "As Hyundai Motor expands its overseas plants, the employment crisis for domestic subcontract workers is worsening."

"Workers at parts suppliers are defenseless against pressure from the prime contractor to reduce volumes and cut unit prices," Kim added. "Through this general strike struggle, we will win prime contractor bargaining and protect our jobs and the future of our worksites."

Representatives of parts supplier and subcontractor unions who attended the rally focused on the employment crisis facing workers at partner companies due to recent volume reductions following the reconstruction of Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant and industrial transitions.

Kim Mi-ok, head of the Hyundai Glovis Ulsan chapter, raised her voice, saying, "The aftermath of the reconstruction and restructuring of Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant is being passed on entirely to subcontractors and sequencing workers in the form of volume reductions."

Jeong Jin-hee, head of the Daeryuk Metal chapter, said, "While Hyundai Motor was posting record-high earnings and holding bonus parties, subcontract workers at parts suppliers were forced to quit their jobs due to management crises."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.