The strike at the Ulsan yard is set to last seven hours a day until September 12. On that date, the unions plan to join forces with labor groups from 11 Hyundai affiliates in a larger protest at the company’s headquarters.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the parent company of Hyundai’s shipyards, has reported strong orders. By September 8, it had signed contracts for 86 ships worth $11.75 billion, reaching 65 percent of its annual target of $18.05 billion.
Still, media reports say production is being disrupted by work stoppages and a crane sit-in, with union members also blocking equipment and ship blocks by riding motorcycles on shipyard roads.
Union concerns have grown over Hyundai’s plan to merge its Ulsan shipyards, making Hyundai Mipo a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries. Workers fear forced job transfers after the merger, and the union has warned it will oppose both the restructuring and the MASGA project if their concerns are ignored.
On September 9, Samsung Heavy Industries reached a tentative agreement with its union, pending a vote by members. Hanwha Ocean concluded its agreement in July, which included a basic wage increase of 123,000 won, a one-time payment of 5.2 million won, and the introduction of a compensation system based on job difficulty.
Reference: businesskorea