The labor union at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun the process for potential strike action, conducting a strike authorization vote from July 2 to 4, after failing to reach an agreement with management in this year's wage negotiations.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Hyundai Heavy Industries branch announced that the vote is part of their strategy to secure victory in the 2025 collective bargaining negotiations.
Since opening negotiations on May 20, the company and union have been unable to reconcile differences. The union is demanding a basic monthly wage increase of 141,300 KRW, excluding step increases, and the extension of the retirement age. In the previous year's negotiations, the union staged 24 partial strikes.
On June 27, the union applied for mediation at the Central Labor Relations Committee and unanimously approved a resolution for strike action during a temporary delegate meeting on June 30. If the majority of the union members vote in favor and a decision to halt mediation is made, they can legally proceed with strike action.
The union emphasized that "the corporate value of HD Hyundai, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is reflected in their stock prices,” attributing these achievements to the efforts of their members. They insisted that appropriate morale-boosting and profit-sharing should follow.
Furthermore, they argued, “Our wage demands are modest and are sustainable given the current performance, leaving the management with no justification for refusal. It should be noted that if negotiations do not progress, this situation may escalate into a broader conflict.”
