High-Altitude Protest Demanding Direct Bargaining... Hanwha Ocean: "Efforts for Coexistence Separate, Firm Response to Illegal Occupation"

As subcontracted workers at Hanwha Ocean began a high-altitude protest demanding direct collective bargaining with the parent company, Hanwha Ocean expressed regret and defined the protest as an "illegal occupation."

On September 30 at around 12:30 p.m., six members of the Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracting Branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, including branch leader Kang Inseok, climbed onto the roof of the pre-painting plant and onto a crane at the system scaffold assembly site within Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje plant in Gyeongnam, launching a high-altitude protest.

On the second day of the protest, October 1, they held a press conference in front of the West Gate of Hanwha Ocean, once again urging the parent company to enter direct negotiations.

Members of the Metal Workers' Union Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors Branch are staging a protest atop the system scaffold assembly crane at the Hanwha Ocean plant in Geoje, Gyeongnam. [Photo by Metalworkers' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters]

They stated, "If the Ministry of Employment and Labor does not force the parent company to negotiate, and if the court continues to condone Hanwha Ocean's tactics of delaying and avoiding collective bargaining, subcontracted workers have no other choice but to fight for the right to negotiate directly with the parent company and to secure victory in such negotiations," explaining the reason behind the high-altitude protest.

They added, "Just as the 2022 strike ignited the movement for amending labor laws, our current struggle to secure parent company bargaining aims to serve as a breakthrough for all non-regular workers to achieve direct bargaining rights and the realization of the three basic labor rights."

The Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters is holding a press conference regarding the high-altitude protest demanding negotiations with the primary contractor at the West Gate of Hanwha Ocean in Geoje, Gyeongnam.
Photo by Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters

In response, Hanwha Ocean issued a statement, saying, "Regardless of our bargaining obligations with the subcontracting union, we consider the high-altitude protest to be an illegal occupation, which cannot be recognized as a legitimate form of industrial action."

The company further pointed out, "The subcontracting branch’s occupation of cranes—which are essential production facilities—demanding performance bonuses not just for its own members but also for Welliv union members, is a blatant illegal occupation far beyond the boundaries of legitimate industrial action. This clearly violates labor laws and could constitute obstruction of business and other offenses."

Hanwha Ocean stated, "Earlier this year, we paid a total of KRW 89 billion in performance bonuses to 10,000 workers at partner companies, applying the same rate as for direct employees of the company. Additionally, we withdrew a KRW 47 billion damages claim that was previously filed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering against the subcontractors’ branch as a gesture of goodwill." The company added, "Nonetheless, we deeply regret that, instead of following proper procedures to seek a court decision, the union is putting pressure on the company through such extreme measures as an illegal occupation."

The statement continued, "Carrying out a high-altitude protest in a shipyard, where large structures and heavy equipment are constantly in motion, poses a serious threat to the safety of both participants and their coworkers in the field and could have a significant impact on normal site operations. Safety must always take precedence over any other value," the company emphasized.

Members of the Metalworkers' Union Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors Branch are staging a protest atop a crane at the system scaffolding assembly site within the Hanwha Ocean plant in Geoje, Gyeongnam. [Photo by Metalworkers' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters]

Hanwha Ocean further stated, "We have repeatedly made it clear that we are willing to negotiate with the subcontracted union, as expressed in our applications for corrective action and mediation. Even now, if the subcontracted union wants to negotiate separately from the Welliv union, the company is willing to immediately enter into negotiations," reaffirming its stance.

"Our efforts toward mutual growth are separate from our response to illegal acts," the company went on to say. "We will continue to strive to improve the treatment of partner company employees and to pursue coexistence. However, we will respond strictly to illegal acts and safety threats in accordance with the law and established principles."

The company also urged, "We call on those participating in the protest to cease their dangerous and illegal activities and return safely to the workplace."

The Welliv union is a labor union composed of subcontracted workers in charge of in-house catering and facility management at the Hanwha Ocean plant.

The union has been demanding that Hanwha Ocean participate in joint negotiations with both the Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Subcontracting Branch and the Welliv union, following the enforcement of the amendment to the Labor Union Act—commonly referred to as the “Yellow Envelope Law”—on March 10.

A dispute has arisen between Hanwha Ocean and the unions over whether Hanwha Ocean should be considered the actual employer obligated to negotiate with the Welliv union.

While the Gyeongnam Regional Labor Relations Commission and the Central Labor Relations Commission determined that Hanwha Ocean is the employer of the Welliv union, Hanwha Ocean has argued, based on other cases, that this judgment is legally unsound. Hanwha Ocean has applied for a stay of execution and has requested a court ruling on the matter.

The company argues that Welliv—an outside contractor providing catering services at large supermarkets, other companies, local governments, and public corporations in Gyeongnam—is not a subsidiary under Hanwha Ocean but an external subcontractor and should therefore bargain separately from the Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Subcontracting Branch, which works together as a partner on shipbuilding projects.

The labor and management at Hanwha Ocean are now awaiting a ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court.

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