Hyundai Strike Taking Toll on Drivers

At 11:00 a.m. yesterday at a Hyundai Motors service center in Daebang-dong, Dongjak District, Mr. Kim (56) had to leave unsatisfied when he visited to have his Equus fixed.

The Hyundai Motors labor union went on strike from June 26, and the sales part also followed suit yesterday. The service center had to close at 10:30 a.m., just two hours after it opened.

Mr. Kim said, “I was planning on going on a four-day summer vacation during the Constitution Day weekend. I do not have enough time to find another service center, so I guess I will have to scrap my plans.”

Customers who learned of the strike at the service centers were angry.

An employee of the Operation Team of the service center said, “We called customers who had made reservations, and canceled all the appointments running up to July 17. We could not even tell the customers when to come back, because we do not know how long the strike will last.”

All that was left of the rows of cars in the operation lot was a lone white Sonata, because the service center could not receive its auto parts delivery.

Hyundai Motors customers, who were dreaming about going on a vacation in a new car, were disappointed by the delay in automobile deliveries.

Hyun Su-young’s (30) vacation plans were frustrated when the delivery of the New Avante was postponed. She had struggled to make plans to visit Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, but had to cancel the vacation because of the delay.

Hyun had been expecting the delivery of her new car ever since a sales clerk told her it would come around July 10.

Hyun says, “With their strikes, the labor union is hurting ordinary workers like me. They are too selfish. I am also mad at the company, which maintains poor management-labor relations and experiences a strike every year.”

Hyun is planning to cancel the contract of her Avante and is planning to purchase another car.

Mr. Hwang (age 33), who works as a traveling mechanic in a small manufacturing company, is in a far worse situation.

Hwang says, “Without the New Avante delivery, I cannot even make my trips. I take the bus, train, and taxi. I still have trouble reaching far away factories in rural areas.”

He had ordered the car in late May, and had been anticipating delivery scheduled for mid-June. He says he is trying to order a car from another automaker that would be delivered to him right away.

Internet websites, including the club “Avante HD” are filled with criticism of the Hyundai Motors labor union.

The labor union shut down its website on June 26 citing that it is blocking out rumors that harm the solidarity of the union.

The labor union, which has been striking for the 14th day as of Thursday, failed to reconcile with the management at the 13th negotiation round and customers will be left disappointed for longer.

Meanwhile, the Kia Motors labor union decided to go into strike on Wednesday and planned to refuse overtime work starting Thursday, but canceled its refusal and is still operating normally.

Dong-Bin Seok bell@donga.com mobidic@donga.com