Hyundai Motor Union Rejects Proposal to Maintain Union Membership for Retired Rehired Employees

The Hyundai Motor Labor Union's proposal to grant union membership to employees rehired as contract workers after retirement was ultimately rejected.

On the 14th, the Hyundai Motor Labor Union held an extraordinary delegates' meeting at the Ulsan Hyundai Motor Cultural Center to discuss the 'Amendment of Union Regulations and Rules,' but it was announced that the proposal was rejected as it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority vote of the delegates.

The key point of this agenda was to grant voting rights for union branch chiefs and other executives, voting rights on tentative collective bargaining agreements, and voting rights on industrial actions (strikes) to those rehired as contract workers after retirement.

Hyubu Young, the newly appointed union chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, is reaffirming his determination at the delegates' meeting on October 20.

Currently, at Hyundai Motor, production workers (technical staff) who retire can work as contract workers for up to two years if they wish. Apart from the right to run for office, that is, the eligibility to become an executive candidate, these rehired workers would be granted the same rights as existing union members.

Within the industry, it is viewed that the union pushed this proposal to maintain its influence, given that more than 2,000 Hyundai retirees occur annually. The union explained that many consider it dishonorable to work again as non-union contract workers at the company where they served for decades, which motivated the proposal.

However, at the delegates' meeting, opinions diverged among delegates over clauses restricting eligibility to run for office and issues related to union dues payment, leading to the final rejection of the proposal.