Protests Continue for Second Month Outside Chung Eui-sun's Residence
Union Demands 'Record-High Bonuses' Despite Steel Industry Slump
Wage and CBA Negotiations Stalled Since September Last Year
The Hyundai Steel Labor Union has conducted three strikes since last month and is now holding off-site protests near the residence of Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai Steel has been engaged in wage and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations with the labor union since September last year, but there has been no progress in the talks.
On the 21st, the Hyundai Steel union continued its protest for the second month in a residential area in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, near the home of Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun. Since January 10, union members have been protesting daily, except on weekends and public holidays, holding large banners and placards. Since the 12th, unions from Hyundai Steel’s partner companies have also joined the protests. Hyundai Steel is headquartered in Incheon and operates factories in Dangjin, Chungnam, among other locations, but the union appears to be increasing pressure by protesting even at the residence of the parent company’s chairman, who is unrelated to the company’s direct operations.
Hyundai Steel union members are holding an outdoor protest near the residence of Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyundai Steel
Previously, the Hyundai Steel union conducted strikes at the cold rolling mill in Dangjin Steelworks, Chungnam, on January 21 and 22. On the 2nd, they carried out partial strikes on some lines at the Dangjin and Incheon plants, and on the 11th, they staged a '24-hour general strike.' These actions followed the acquisition of the right to strike through an application for mediation at the Chungnam Regional Labor Relations Commission in October last year. Despite these strike activities, the union continues to hold daily off-site protests, which some criticize as a public nuisance; however, the union has stated its intention to continue the protests as they are.
The labor and management sides are at odds over the scale of wage and performance bonus payments. Hyundai Steel proposed a 100,000 KRW increase in base pay along with a performance bonus of '450% of base pay + 10 million KRW,' but the union opposed this and the proposal fell through. The Hyundai Steel union demands the company to ▲ increase the base pay by 159,800 KRW (excluding seniority increments) ▲ provide the maximum performance bonus ▲ offer interest-free loans of 10 million KRW for two years for vehicle purchases ▲ and provide a 20% vehicle discount every three years for retirees.
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