Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's leading automaker, will intensify their ongoing strike in the coming weeks, as the management's response to their calls for pay raises and better working conditions fell short of expectations, the labor union said Saturday.
Hyundai Motor's 44,000 unionized workers have staged a partial strike since June 26 demanding a 9.1 percent rise in basic salary and other incentives.
On Monday this week, the management and the labor union held a meeting to discuss the labor unrest, but failed to produce any compromise.
On Tuesday, the two sides are set to meet again to settle the labor dispute. "We have no option but to step up the strike if the management's proposal does not meet our calls again," a labor union official said.
The labor unrest came at a particularly sensitive time this year, as company Chairman Chung Mong-koo is in court on charges of misappropriating company funds and bribing government officials.
Chung was released from prison late last month after putting up 1 billion won (US$1.1 million) in bail.
The company also reported a 1.6 percent fall in June vehicle sales, partly as a result of the partial strike
Ulsan, July 8 (Yonhap News)
Hyundai Motor labor union poised to step up strike |
