사진 확대 (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and its labor union failed to reach an agreement in wage and collective bargaining talks, with the union set to begin rolling partial strikes from Wednesday.
According to the company on Tuesday, the two sides held their 18th round of talks but negotiations ended without progress after the union rejected the management’s first proposal.
The union plans to launch the strikes with a seven-hour walkout Wednesday involving executive officers, negotiators and union delegates. Different union groups will then take turns staging partial strikes through September 10.
On September 15, all union members will stage a four-hour partial strike. If carried out, the strikes would mark the fourth consecutive year of labor action at the company.
The two sides have held 18 rounds of talks since their first meeting in early June but remain divided over wage increases and performance-based compensation.
The union is seeking a 149,600 won ($108.89) monthly increase in base pay, in addition to seniority-based raises, as well as a 100 percent increase in bonuses, at least 30 percent of operating profit as a performance-based payout, and the inclusion of vacation allowances and congratulatory payments in ordinary wages.
The union secured the legal right to strike after the National Labor Relations Commission decided to end mediation of the labor dispute and union members voted in favor of industrial action.
The two sides will continue negotiations despite the strikes, increasing formal talks to three times a week from twice a week this month and holding representative- and working-level talks.
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith to narrow the differences between the two sides,” said an official from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
By Park Seung-joo and Chang Iou-chung
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]