Battery Association and Research Union Temporarily Suspend Strike After 12 Days, Citing Management's Willingness to Negotiate

"Urgent Need to Secure Competitiveness in the Battery Industry"

The Korea Federation of Trade Unions National Metal Workers' Union Federation Korea Battery Industry Association·Research Union Branch (the union) has decided to temporarily suspend its industrial action.

Korea Battery Industry Association·Research Union Branch CI. Korea Battery Industry Association website

On the 30th, the union announced that it would temporarily halt its outdoor industrial action, return to work, and focus on negotiations. This decision comes 12 days after the strike first began.

During this period of industrial action, the union held three rounds of negotiations with management, demanding improvements in working conditions such as wages, performance bonuses, and promotions, as well as good-faith bargaining.

The union explained the reason for the suspension, stating, "The association has shown a forward-looking change in attitude toward resolving labor-management issues, such as promising the participation of executives with decision-making authority in future negotiations and the attendance of a majority of management's negotiation committee members."

The union further stated, "Another reason for the temporary suspension of industrial action is the urgent voices from the field, expressing that we can no longer ignore the difficulties faced by member companies due to the suspension of association operations," adding, "We have determined that it is urgent to lay the foundation for securing the global competitiveness of the battery industry."

Additionally, the union emphasized, "This industrial action was initiated as a legitimate demand for fair compensation and improved working conditions for union members who have dedicated themselves under difficult circumstances," warning, "If management ignores the legitimate demands of union members, we will proceed with a general strike again."

Previously, on the 19th, the union launched its first strike in the 27 years since the association was established. The Korea Battery Industry Association was launched in 1997 as the 'Korea Battery Research Union' and was officially established in 2011 as a representative industry association under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as a non-profit organization.