Hyundai Steel has partially won a damages lawsuit worth approximately 20 billion won against the irregular workers' union and others who occupied the control center at the Dangjin Steelworks four years ago.
According to the legal community on June 24, the Incheon District Court Civil Division 16 (Presiding Judge Park Sungmin) ruled in favor of Hyundai Steel in part, ordering the Hyundai Steel Irregular Workers' Union of the Chungnam branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union and 180 workers to pay approximately 590 million won in damages.
However, the court did not provide specific reasons for its judgment during the sentencing hearing on this day.
Workers from partner companies affiliated with the Hyundai Steel Irregular Workers' Union occupied the control center at the Dangjin Steelworks in South Chungcheong Province for over 50 days, starting from August 23, 2021. At that time, Hyundai Steel had unilaterally decided to regularize the employment of partner company workers through recruitment by a subsidiary in order to resolve the issue of illegal dispatch. In response, the union held rallies and occupied the facility.
Hyundai Steel filed the damages lawsuit, claiming that the occupation of the control center by the union resulted in property damage, assaults, and production disruptions.
The irregular workers' union argued, "Irregular workers engaged in industrial action because of Hyundai Steel's illegal practices," and insisted, "Hyundai Steel should withdraw the lawsuit even now and apologize for its past wrongdoings."
A Hyundai Steel representative stated, "We respect the court's decision to put a stop to violent and illegal industrial actions," and added, "We will make greater efforts to establish a healthy labor-management culture."
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