GGM Labor-Management Conflict Intensifies... Civil Society Calls for Local Government Accountability vs. Company Appeals for Mutual Growth

Local groups condemn "unfair labor practices"
GGM: "Must uphold the mutual growth agreement"

Labor-management conflict at Gwangju Global Motors (GGM), the first company established under the Gwangju-style jobs initiative, is escalating. After local civil society groups condemned the company for unfair labor practices and called for its executives to resign and its largest shareholder, the local government, to intervene, the company countered that the groups were "undermining the original purpose of the grand labor-management-civil society-government compromise and social commitments."

The head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union and the secretary of the GGM branch are staging a hunger strike. Photo provided by GGM.

On the morning of October 20, 75 civil society groups in the Gwangju area held a joint press conference in front of the Gwangju Government Building of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, calling for GGM's president to resign voluntarily, an end to the suppression of the labor union, and a responsible resolution of the situation by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

The press conference was held on the ninth day of a hunger strike by the head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch of the Korean Metalworkers' Union and the secretary of the GGM Branch.

The groups criticized the company, saying, "GGM is a company with a strong public-service mission, established with Gwangju City as its largest shareholder, under the banner of creating local jobs and fostering labor-management cooperation." They added, "However, the Jeonnam Regional Labor Relations Commission found all five relief applications filed by the union to involve unfair labor practices, following a similar ruling in 2024. Earlier this month, the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office also conducted a search and seizure over allegations of interference with union activities."

They continued, "The workers ended their 211-day tent encampment in front of City Hall and entered intensive negotiations, but the talks ultimately broke down, prompting them to begin a hunger strike that puts their lives at risk." They demanded, "The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, as GGM's largest shareholder, must not stand by and watch. It must hold the executives accountable and immediately develop measures to ensure basic labor rights, including the resignation of GGM's president."

Gwangju Global Motors issued a statement expressing regret over the claims made by civil society groups and the union, and appealed for compliance with the "agreement on mutual growth."

GGM said, "The company was established in 2019 through a grand labor-management-civil society-government compromise, reflecting local residents' hopes of creating jobs for young people and the social commitments made." It countered, "The parties agreed that, until cumulative vehicle production reaches 350,000 units, various issues, including appropriate wages and working hours, would be discussed through the Win-Win Council in accordance with the Labor-Management Coexistence and Development Agreement, a social commitment."

It added, "Since the union was established in 2024, even wage and collective bargaining issues that should be resolved through internal dialogue have become points of contention outside the company." It said, "Normal business operations have been significantly hampered by outside pressure, including tent encampments and hunger strikes, and it is deeply disheartening that even some of the civil society groups involved in the company's founding are turning their backs on social commitments."

It also emphasized, "Despite difficult circumstances, we have maintained employment for around 750 people and steadily improved wages and benefits, establishing the company as a provider of quality jobs." It added, "Next year will be a pivotal time for us to further increase Casper production and take a leap forward as a global specialist in automobile manufacturing."

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