The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor union will begin a partial strike starting on the 2nd of next month due to difficulties in this year's wage and collective bargaining talks. The outcome of labor-management negotiations to be held on the 1st of next month before the strike is expected to determine whether to actually launch industrial action.
The Metal Workers' Union Hyundai Heavy Industries Branch said on the 28th that it held a central strike countermeasures committee meeting and finalized a dispute schedule, including a partial strike, from Sept. 2 to 15.
The first strike on the 2nd of next month will be a seven-hour partial strike with executive officers and delegates participating. Participants plan to visit the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center (GRC) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, to hold a rally and other events. Labor unions of HD Hyundai affiliates, including the HD Construction Equipment Incheon and Gunsan business sites, are also scheduled to take part.
Except for normal operations on the 3rd and 7th, the union will stage rotating partial strikes by subordinate organizations through the 10th. It then plans a four-hour partial strike on the 15th with all members participating. The strike schedule and intensity after the 15th will be decided later following internal discussions.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor and management have held 17 rounds of talks since the initial meeting on June 2 but have failed to find common ground. The union secured the right to strike with a 66.18% approval rate in a strike vote on the 27th. Labor and management agreed to increase bargaining sessions from twice a week to three times a week starting in September.
In this year's talks, the union is demanding a 149,600 won increase in the monthly base wage (excluding step increases), a 100% increase in bonuses, sharing at least 30% of operating profit, inclusion of vacation pay and congratulatory money in ordinary wages, and new hiring. In particular, it is reported that labor and management remain far apart on a plan to share performance linked to operating profit.
Labor and management will hold the 18th main bargaining session on the 1st of next month. If they still fail to reach an agreement and the union proceeds with the strike as planned, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will stage strikes for the fourth consecutive year since 2023.