Kia Motors Union, Negotiations Fail... Partial Strike Begins Tomorrow

Expectations Rise for Resolution with Additional Negotiations on the Day
But Differences Remain on Issues Like 'Restoring 30-Minute Overtime'
Partial Strike Scheduled for 25th-27th

Kia Motors Sohari Plant (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The Kia Motors labor union is set to go on strike again this year. The union, which had initially announced a partial strike starting on the 24th, postponed the strike to hold additional negotiations with management but failed to narrow their differences.

According to industry sources on the 24th, the Kia Motors union held the 14th round of negotiations on wages and collective bargaining (wage and collective agreement) with management at 2 p.m. that day. Despite nearly three hours of talks, no agreement was reached, and the union declared the negotiations broken down. Accordingly, the union plans to carry out a partial strike for four hours each for day and night shift workers from the 25th to the 27th.

In particular, during the negotiations, the union demanded the restoration of the "30-minute overtime," but discussions did not progress as management did not present any additional proposals on this matter. Management suggested revisiting the overtime issue after concluding the wage and collective agreement, as it is linked to allowances, but the union reportedly maintained an uncompromising stance.

As a result, the Kia Motors union will raise the strike flag for the ninth consecutive year. Previously, after the 13th round of negotiations broke down on the 18th, the union decided to conduct a partial strike of four hours each for day and night shifts from the 24th to the 27th. The day before, management proposed additional negotiations, which the union accepted, leading to the postponement of the strike for one day and raising hopes for a dramatic resolution, but ultimately the strike proceeded.

The union plans to hold another dispute countermeasure committee meeting next week after the scheduled strike to decide on whether to proceed with additional strikes.

Meanwhile, in this year's wage and collective agreement negotiations, the Kia Motors union is demanding ▲a 120,000 KRW increase in base pay ▲a 30% distribution of operating profit as performance bonuses ▲extension of the retirement age. Additionally, concerned about job reductions due to the advent of the electric vehicle era, the union is calling for the expansion of electric vehicle module production lines within the factory.