General Motors Korea workers staged a partial strike today after previously striking for two days earlier in the week.
According to English language Korean news agency Business Korea, employees split up into two groups for the strike, with each group taking separate 4 hour strike shifts.
Additionally, the worker’s union said those on the production line would no longer work overtime from August 23 to August 28 and said all union staff would strike for four hours a day between August 26 and August 28.
Business Korea also reports that General Motors sent its president of international operations, Julian Blisset, to South Korea to assess the situation.
GM Korea employees previously sought a 5.6 percent wage hike, performance-based bonuses worth two and a half months of wages and a cash bonus worth $5,400 USD. GM Korea shot down that proposal, though, continuing contentious contract negotiations that began in early July.
In a statement released previously, GM Korea said slow sales both locally and internationally, along with the fact that it had to be bailed out last year, means it cannot currently offer workers a significant raise.
“At the outset of wage negotiations, the company explained that it is difficult to accept the union’s requests for a salary increase and the payment of performance bonuses due to the unfavorable business environment both internally and externally and the fact that the company has not yet returned to profitability,” the automaker said in a statement.
GM Korea currently builds the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax and Chevrolet Trax for local consumption and for export to the United States and elsewhere. It was also recently allocated the Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet TrailBlazer compact crossovers, production of which may be put in jeopardy if GM Korea workers were to strike.
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Source: Business Korea
Comments
I think there might be some empty available space in Ohio where they can build some cars.
Problem with that is the buyers in that market (Korea, SE Asia) goes bye-bye also, not to mention some Holdens and the GM Siberia models goes with it. Not saying GM needs to bow to the Korean union but if they can’t come up with a plan, GM with today’s political environment with ship cars from Thailand, S/A (and yes ) maybe N/A factories.
Build em in Bowling Green, plant has had as high as a million units a year capacity! Museum delivery of a Encore GX might be a selling point to make up for the hideous headlights!
The Ladies and Gentlemen in Bowling Green need to stay laser focused on building Corvettes! Lordstown would be a better bet for volume, if Korea were shut down. Bowling green isn’t set up to build five vehicles. No shop does.
Awwww this breaks my heart that the “all powerful” gm has to deal with a union of 16k……… I guess 9/15/19 going to get a little attention now considering Arlington and ft wayne have almost that many employees in just 2 plants #ourtimeisnow #weareunionstrong #norats