HD Hyundai Heavy union starts five-day partial strike by all members
The union at South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries began a five-day partial strike on Monday. All members will walk out for seven hours a day through Friday. Members voted down a wage deal on October 2, and new talks have stalled.
The union at South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries began a five-day partial strike involving all members on Monday, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported.
Members will strike for seven hours a day, from 9 AM to 5 PM local time excluding lunch, through October 23, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported. The walkout started at the company's Ulsan headquarters and other sites, Businesskorea reported.
The union had first planned four-hour strikes by officials on October 19 and 20, with all members joining from October 21, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported. It widened the action to all members for all five days after talks made no progress, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported. The Seoul Economic Daily, writing on Sunday before the change, described the earlier plan.
Labor and management reached a tentative deal on September 30, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported. It included a base pay raise of 120,000 won and a one-time payment of 11 million won, plus 200% in incentive pay. Members rejected it on October 2, with 52.14% voting against, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported. The Seoul Economic Daily reported that 7,541 members voted. Two more rounds of talks, on October 13 and 15, produced no new offer, Businesskorea reported.
The union is seeking a base pay raise of 149,600 won and a 100% increase in bonuses, MoneyToday reported. The company views its existing offer as the highest in the shipbuilding industry, MoneyToday reported. "We will do our utmost to resolve the current situation promptly and restore normalcy to the negotiations," a company official said, according to MoneyToday.
Branch chief Kim Dong-ha climbed a crane about 25 meters high at the Ulsan headquarters on Sunday evening and has been staging a sit-in protest there, Businesskorea and MoneyToday reported.
The Seoul Economic Daily reported that the company has posted record earnings this year. Businesskorea reported that the strike is expected to disrupt production.
What we know: All union members began a seven-hour daily strike on Monday that is set to run through October 23.
What we don't: Whether the company will make a new offer, and how much output will be lost.
Where outlets agree Businesskorea and MoneyToday report that all union members began a seven-hour daily partial strike on Monday that runs through October 23, after members rejected a tentative wage deal on October 2.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.