Hyundai Motor's labor union met the first condition to secure the right to strike, winning nearly 87% support in a strike-authorization vote. Whether it will launch a strike will be decided on the 25th, depending on the Central Labor Relations Commission (CLRC).
The Hyundai Motor chapter of the Korean Metal Workers' Union said on the 24th that, in a strike-authorization vote of 39,668 members, 37,348, or 94.15%, cast ballots, with 34,371 (92.03%) voting in favor. The approval rate based on all union members is 86.65%. Of those who voted, 2,977, or 7.97%, voted against.
Earlier, Hyundai Motor labor and management held 11 rounds of talks starting with a wage-bargaining kickoff meeting on the 6th of last month but failed to find common ground. The union then declared the talks broken on the 12th and held a strike-authorization vote.
For the union to actually go on strike, two conditions must be met: approval by a majority of all members and a CLRC decision to "suspend mediation." If the CLRC determines the gap between labor and management is large and decides to suspend mediation, or if mediation fails, the union secures a legal right to strike. The decision will come on the 25th.
The Hyundai Motor union is demanding a 149,600 won increase in the monthly base salary (excluding step raises), payment of a performance bonus equal to 30% of last year's net profit, and a hike in the annual bonus rate from 750% to 800%. It also put on the list guarantees for employment and working conditions related to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), full implementation of a monthly salary system, a reduction in working hours without intensifying work, and new hires.