Today, renegotiations with management... The spark for resuming the strike remains depending on the outcome
[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Kia Motors labor union, which had raised concerns due to '9 consecutive years of strikes,' has decided to postpone the planned partial strike scheduled from the 24th to the 27th and will engage in one more round of main negotiations with management. However, since there is a possibility of resuming the strike depending on the results of the renegotiation, the tension remains.
According to the automotive industry on the 24th, Kia Motors labor and management agreed through discussions between secretaries to proceed with the main negotiations on this day. Accordingly, production lines at the Gwangju plant, Sohari, and Hwaseong plants will operate normally. The decision on whether to renegotiate was made urgently the previous night. Earlier, after the 13th negotiation held on the 18th ended in failure, the Kia Motors union had planned to conduct a partial strike for four days from the 24th to the 27th, working four hours each during day and night shifts.
Although the worst-case scenario was avoided, anxiety remains. This is because the union has stated that it may proceed with the strike depending on the outcome of the main negotiations on this day. An industry insider said, "If both sides reach some degree of consensus after the main negotiations begin, the planned four-day partial strike could be avoided through methods such as recess and resumption. However, if the main negotiations only confirm the differences in positions, the union will resume the strike."
Kia Motors labor and management have held several rounds of collective bargaining negotiations but have failed to reach any significant agreement. In recent negotiations, management proposed a 150% performance bonus, employee stock ownership if a no-strike agreement is reached, a special COVID-19 bonus of 1.2 million KRW, and traditional market gift certificates worth 200,000 KRW. This is similar to the terms agreed upon by Hyundai Motors labor and management in September. On the other hand, the union is demanding a base salary increase of 120,304 KRW, a performance bonus of 30% of last year's operating profit, the introduction of a labor director system, expansion of the scope of ordinary wages, and extension of the retirement age.
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