Kia Union Secures Strike Rights... Will the 'Five Years Without Disputes' Record Be Broken?

National Labor Relations Commission Decides to Suspend Mediation
in Kia Labor-Management Wage Negotiations Dispute

The Kia labor union has secured the legal right to strike in relation to wage and collective bargaining negotiations.

According to Yonhap News Agency on July 27, the Central Labor Relations Commission decided to suspend mediation during the dispute mediation process regarding Kia's wage and collective bargaining negotiations, which began at 3 p.m. that day. The decision was made after mediation failed due to significant differences between management and labor. As a result, the Kia union has legally secured the right to strike.

Previously, on July 23, the union held a strike action vote among all its members, with 82% voting in favor, approving the strike. Through six rounds of main negotiations and nine working-level meetings with management, the union demanded an increase of 149,600 won to the base salary, payment of a performance bonus equivalent to 30% of last year's operating profit, implementation of a 4.5-day work week, and extension of the retirement age to 65. The company refused these demands.

However, the union is reportedly continuing to hold further main negotiations and working-level meetings with management. If both sides are able to reach an agreement during the upcoming talks, a strike may be averted.

On July 30, at the first Dispute Countermeasure Committee meeting, the union is scheduled to discuss whether to proceed with an actual strike. Since 2021, Kia's management and labor have successfully reached wage and collective bargaining agreements for five consecutive years without any strikes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.