Hyundai Motor Union Will Not Join Strike

The Hyundai Motors labor union said on July 5 that it has decided not to join a planned strike from July 18 to 27 by the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU).

It is thought that the car union decided not to join because it prompted strong opposition from union members when it took part in the last month’s anti-KORUS FTA strike.

The Hyundai union said, “Negotiations between labor and management have not even started yet. They are scheduled to start on July 12. So it is premature to put to a vote another strike. If we do, it would be very difficult to win the hearts and minds of the members.”

Regarding this, a union member said “Because the leaders of the union were elected in a by-election in April, collective wage bargaining took place late. For this reason, we are unable to join the KMWU strike.”

On June 12, the KMWU declared that industrial union talks collapsed because the 4 major car companies did not come to the negotiating table. The KMWU announced its plan to stage a strike from July 18 to 27 if the members of each industrial union agreed from July 9 to 11.

Regarding the decision not to join, a union member who was against the anti-KORUS FTA strike said, “It appears the union leadership was not sure whether it could garner enough yes votes for the planned strike if it carries a vote before the start of collective wage bargaining. Because of last month’s political strike, many members are against the scheduled strike. And union leaders are wary of this.”

raks@donga.com