HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Union 65.1% "Support Strike"

Majority of All Union Members Approve Strike
Central Labor Relations Commission Secures Right to Strike if 'Mediation Suspension' Decided

The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor union has approved a strike.

The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union announced on the 24th that 65.1% (4,919 members) of the total union members voted in favor during the strike approval vote related to this year's wage and collective bargaining negotiations held from the 22nd to the 24th. Out of 7,560 total union members, 5,195 (68.72%) participated in the vote, with only 259 opposing.

Members of the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Labor Union are counting the votes for the strike action approval vote on the 24th at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Headquarters branch conference room.
[Photo by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Labor Union]

If the Central Labor Relations Commission determines that the gap between labor and management positions is significant and decides to suspend mediation, the union will secure the right to strike. Earlier, on the 18th, the union applied to the Central Labor Relations Commission for dispute mediation, stating, "Despite about ten negotiation sessions since the initial meeting, the company has not presented any proposals." The union plans to hold a Central Dispute Countermeasure Committee meeting in mid-August after the summer vacation to discuss the strike schedule.

Separately, the union has announced participation in a simultaneous strike (a 4-hour partial strike on August 24) organized by the Shipbuilding Industry Union Solidarity (Joseon Noyeon), a gathering of major shipbuilding company unions. In a newsletter released that day, the union stated, "Starting with the Daewoo Shipbuilding branch and up to the Samsung Heavy Industries Workers' Council, strike approval votes have passed with overwhelming support from workers," adding, "Now, only the strike approval votes of the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries branch, Electric branch, Construction Equipment branch, and In-house Subcontractor branch remain."

2024 HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Union Members' Strike Vote Counting Results [Image Source=HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Union]

Labor and management at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have held about ten negotiation sessions recently but have failed to achieve significant results. The union submitted demands for the wage and collective bargaining agreement to the company, including ▲ a base salary increase of 159,800 KRW ▲ changes to the performance bonus calculation criteria ▲ extension of retirement age ▲ new hires ▲ free access for union officials of the in-house subcontractor branch. The company has yet to present any proposals.

Last year, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor and management also conducted a partial strike and reached a wage and collective bargaining agreement on September 7, three months after negotiations began.