Partial workplace closure on the 4th after 9 failed negotiations for 2020 wage and collective agreement
"The labor and management were like this last year." In April last year, a signing ceremony was held at the Renault Samsung Motors Busan plant to conclude the 2019 wage agreement negotiations. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] As Renault Samsung Motors labor and management have failed to find a breakthrough in the wage and collective bargaining negotiations, the company has abruptly implemented a workplace closure.
When the Renault Samsung Motors union went on a full strike during the 2020 wage and collective agreement negotiations, the company responded with a workplace closure, continuing the strong confrontation between both sides.
Renault Samsung Motors began a partial workplace closure from 7 a.m. on the 4th.
A workplace closure is an act where the employer shuts down factories and workplaces to enforce their position when a labor dispute occurs between labor and management.
On the previous day, the 3rd, the Renault Samsung Motors union issued an 8-hour full strike directive to all union members for the 4th.
This full strike related to the 2020 wage and collective agreement was the second since the strike on the 30th of last month.
The labor and management held the 9th main negotiation session for the wage and collective agreement on the 29th of last month but failed to narrow their differences.
The union proposed a basic wage increase of 71,687 won and a bonus payment of 7 million won in the wage and collective bargaining negotiations, while the management proposed freezing the basic wage for 2020 and 2021, paying a bonus of 5 million won, reinstating about 290 workers on rotational leave, and switching from a single shift to a two-shift system starting in June.
The union opposed, stating, “Workplace closure is merely a means to nullify the dispute actions taken by workers and the labor union and cannot have any legitimacy.”
The management said, “Due to the union’s sudden full strike, it has become difficult to respond to domestic sales and securing XM3 export volumes to Europe. To operate the production line by identifying workers willing to work, workplace closure is inevitable.”
With Renault Samsung Motors labor and management each engaging in full strikes and workplace closures, the strong confrontation has made the resumption of main negotiations uncertain.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
