Kim Hyungsu, chairman of the Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracting Branch of the Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch, who had been staging a high-altitude protest on a 30-meter steel tower in front of Hanwha's headquarters in Seoul, demanding the guarantee of labor rights and collective bargaining, set foot on the ground after 97 days of protest.
The Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracting Branch of the Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch and others held a press conference in front of the Hanwha Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th, announcing the end of Kim's high-altitude protest.
Kim signed the wage and collective bargaining agreement on the steel tower where he had been protesting since March 15, and then descended to the ground during the press conference.
The lift carrying Kim Hyungsu, chairman of the Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracting Union, is descending to the ground. Provided by Metal Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch
On the 17th, Hanwha Ocean labor and management reached a consensus in the 2024 collective bargaining negotiations, including a 50% increase in bonuses, which had been a key issue, as well as measures for industrial accident prevention.
The union held a signing ceremony on this day after a vote among union members on the tentative agreement with Hanwha Ocean's partner companies.
After the press conference, Kim reportedly went to the hospital for a health checkup.
The union stated, "Although collective bargaining between Hanwha Ocean subcontracted labor and management has concluded, we will not stop our struggle for the withdrawal of damage compensation lawsuits, the revision of the labor union law, and the resolution of the high-altitude protest issue at Korea Optical Hi-Tech."
They added, "Together with 100,000 shipbuilding subcontracted workers, we will fight bigger, broader, and stronger to fundamentally change Korean society."
Kim Hyungsu, chairman of the Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontracting Branch (left), is stamping the agreement between Hanwha Ocean subcontracted labor and management together with Jang Changyeol, chairman of the Metalworkers' Union, at the high-altitude protest site in front of Hanwha headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Provided by Metalworkers' Union Gyeongnam Branch
Along with the tentative agreement on wages and collective bargaining, Hanwha Ocean labor and management have also agreed to withdraw all ongoing lawsuits and criminal complaints.
Hanwha Ocean is also considering withdrawing the damage compensation lawsuit worth about 47 billion KRW, which was filed in connection with the 51-day dock occupation strike by the subcontracting branch in May 2022, during the former Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering era.
A Hanwha Ocean official stated, "We determined that the safety of Kim, who was protesting at high altitude, was of utmost importance, so from a humanitarian perspective of respecting life, we sought ways to actively accept the subcontracting branch's demand for a bonus increase in cooperation with the bargaining parties."
They further explained, "In order to realize the principle of mutual prosperity and cooperation, where both labor and management must succeed together, we are preparing to withdraw the 47 billion KRW damage compensation lawsuit from a broad-minded perspective."
Additionally, they said, "Under current law, leaving management losses from strikes unaddressed creates legal risks such as breach of trust by management. To overcome this, we are persuading the board of directors, including outside directors, that measures for labor-management harmony, such as withdrawing lawsuits, will strengthen the company's business competitiveness in the long term."
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