Vol. 74/No. 47      December 13, 2010

Hyundai, which is South Korea’s largest automaker and whose share price has risen 49 percent this year, is now facing the prospect of a united strike by workers at a time when sales have been increasing, particularly in the U.S. market.

The strike involves 600 workers. One assembly line occupied by the strikers has been closed and the company has sued 27 strike leaders, claiming that collective action for permanent employment is prohibited under Korean labor laws. More than 20 workers were injured and 50 arrested at the beginning of the occupation after Hyundai called in riot police using tear gas in an attempt to end the strike.

“Hyundai Motor should stop violence towards us,” the striking employees said in a statement. “If you [Hyundai Motor] want to solve this problem in a peaceful way, you should show up at the negotiating table to talk about giving us permanent jobs.”

The walkout follows a Supreme Court ruling July directing the automaker to hire temporary employees who have worked at the plant for more than two years.

Hyundai has about 8,200 contract workers—22 percent of its total workforce. The company claims that any concession will lead to the wholesale conversion of the workers’ status and cost the automaker dearly.

This struggle has ramifications not only at Hyundai, but at all other companies where temporary workers are increasingly employed in South Korea.
 
 
Related articles:
Unionists in Australia celebrate labor victory  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home