After 41 Days of Talks and No Progress, Hyundai Motor Union Stages First Full-Scale Strike in 10 Years

Additional Strikes for Five Days Starting August 19
Full-Scale Strike on August 21... First in 10 Years

The Hyundai Motor Labor Union will launch a full-scale 8-hour strike on August 21. This decision comes as the primary wage negotiation, which resumed after 41 days, ended without meaningful results, thereby escalating the intensity of the strike to its peak. This marks the first full-scale strike by the Hyundai Motor Union in 10 years since the 2016 collective bargaining negotiations.

According to the Hyundai Motor Labor Union on August 18, labor and management held their 16th primary negotiation at 2 p.m. at the Ulsan Plant, but concluded talks after about three hours. Despite the two parties sitting down together at the negotiation table for the first time in 41 days since the 15th round of talks on July 8, no substantive progress was achieved.

On the 12th, morning shift workers at Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant in Myeongchon Main Gate, Buk-gu, Ulsan, are leaving work early due to a partial strike lasting four hours. The Hyundai Motor Union will continue the strike for 4 to 6 hours daily from this day until the 18th. Yonhap News

Immediately after the talks, the union notified its members that "the proposals made during today's working-level talks were insignificant," stating that the company failed to offer additional wage increases or propose improved bonus schemes. The union also explained that there was no notable progress on key demands such as extending the retirement age and reinstating dismissed workers.

An upcoming negotiation schedule could not be decided. Both sides agreed to confirm any developments through further working-level discussions before finalizing the date for the next negotiation session.

The union convened its 6th Central Strike Countermeasures Committee meeting at 6 p.m. that same day and adopted the "Central Countermeasures Committee Directive No. 6." Accordingly, partial 4-hour strikes by individual shifts will be held on August 19, 20, 24, and 25.

For the first shift (morning shift workers) and regular first shift, the strike will take place from 10:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; for the second shift (afternoon shift workers), from 7:30 p.m. to 12:10 a.m. the following day—each conducting a 4-hour walkout. The regular daytime shift workers will strike from 12:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m., while office workers will stop work from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Notably, on August 21, the union will carry out an 8-hour full-scale strike. On that day, the union plans to lead a protest at Hyundai Motor Group's headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, focusing on expanded union leaders, site delegates, various committee members, and voluntary union members.

The union stated, "Although negotiations have continued in response to management's demands despite the prolonged deadlock, we find the proposals submitted insufficient for any meaningful progress. Therefore, we are conducting this strike with firm resolve to pressure management." However, the union emphasized, "We will continue to make efforts to reach an agreement through negotiations," and maintained its policy of suspending strikes on the day of any resumed primary negotiation.

In this year's wage bargaining, the union is demanding a base pay increase of 149,600 won, a performance-based bonus amounting to 30% of last year's net profit, and an 800% increase in bonuses. Major demands also include the extension of the retirement age and the reinstatement of dismissed workers.

The union's position on the retirement age is that it should be implemented immediately through a supplementary agreement upon any amendment to relevant laws, with further discussions on the wage peak system. Regarding dismissed workers, the union has suggested that the decision about reinstatement be discussed toward the end of the year, after reviewing each individual's intention and relevant legal proceedings.

Conversely, on July 8 during the 15th round of negotiations, management proposed an 89,000-won increase in base pay, a performance-based bonus of 350% plus 10 million won, and the allotment of 15 company shares per employee. However, the union rejected these offers, stating that they failed to meet union members' expectations.

There remain significant differences between the two sides over bonus increases, the extension of retirement age, and the reinstatement of dismissed workers. The company maintains that these issues go beyond the scope of this year's wage talks and, in the case of dismissed workers, argues that it lacks grounds to reinstate individuals who were lawfully terminated. Regarding the extension of the retirement age, the company insists that political and legislative discussions must come first, making it premature for management and labor to reach a conclusion on this issue solely within the wage negotiation process.

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