Hyundai and union resume wage negotiations after strikes

Dafter three partial strikes last week, the Hyundai Motor correspondent in South Korea resumed wage negotiations with the main union of the company this tuesday (18 august).

These are the first dialogues since 8 July, and after strikes that have provoked estimated losses of around $1,270 million (eur 1,160 million) on sales to the company.

Negotiations, which in addition to wage increases seek job guarantees in view of the future introduction of robots in Hyundai's factories, began at 2 p.m. local (6 a.m. in mainland Portugal/05 a.m. in the Azores), after management and union agreed on Friday to return to the negotiating table, according to Yonhap.

Last week, the company workers stopped four hours a shift on Wednesday and Thursday, and six hours on Friday. A further six-hour protest was scheduled today, while the announcement of the resumption of talks was suspended.

What does the union demand?

In July, the union, which represents about 40,000 workers, held three stop rounds in South Korean factories, which would have resulted in losses of at least 1.8 billion won (1.160 million euros), according to estimates cited by Yonhap.

The union requires a monthly increase of 149,600 won (96 euros) and a bonus equivalent to 30 percent of the net profit of 2025. The company offers 89,000 won (58 euros) more per month, additional incentives and 15 shares per employee.

The differences remain around wages, premiums, increased retirement age and reintegration of officials dismissed in previous conflicts.

The negotiation also includes requirements for guarantees on employment and working conditions in the face of the future introduction of artificial intelligence and robots, an issue that the union relates to the possible use of humanoid Atlas, developed by Boston Dynamics, an American subsidiary of Hyundai, according to a report by the KMWU metallurgical federation.