The POSCO labor union on the 9th approved industrial action with a 92% yes vote.
In a strike-authorization vote related to the 2026 collective bargaining held on the 8th–9th by the POSCO labor union of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions Metal Workers' Federation, the representative bargaining union at POSCO, 97.1% of members participated and 92.2% of them voted in favor.
Kim Seong-ho, Chairperson of the POSCO labor union (head of the strike countermeasures committee), said, "The record turnout and overwhelming support are not because we want a strike, but a desperate on-site warning to set the company straight," and added, "If the company ultimately ignores on-site voices and repeats insincere bargaining, all conflicts and responsibility arising from that lie entirely with the company."
POSCO labor and management have held three rounds of talks since a courtesy meeting on the 12th. The POSCO union argued that this result is a strong warning from on-site workers that has built up since the physical split. It criticized that although the steel institutional sector serves as the group's cash cow, only sacrifices are being demanded of on-site workers.
The union also said that in the midst of a management crisis, dividends sent to POSCO Holdings are rising without standards. The union said management has continued to reject its demand, raised since last year's talks, to disclose the standards for dividends.
The union said the result of this strike-authorization vote is not aimed at a strike. POSCO has maintained a no-strike tradition since its founding in 1968.
POSCO labor and management will proceed with additional negotiations and the National Labor Relations Commission's collective bargaining mediation process. If mediation is suspended, a strike would be allowed.