This year, the major shipbuilding companies and labor unions involved in wage and collective agreement (labor-management negotiations) negotiations are engaged in a fierce battle of nerves. The Shipbuilding Industry Union Federation (Korean) stated that the company has not presented proposals that meet the union's demands, leading to strikes starting at various business sites.

According to the shipbuilding industry on the 18th, the unions of HD Hyundai's three shipyards (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Mipo, HD Hyundai Samho) and Hanwha Ocean are set to begin a strike lasting more than seven hours from that day.

Although a person surnamed K secured the right to strike as part of the Shipbuilding Industry Union Federation, the strike was postponed due to internal circumstances. HSG Seongdong Shipbuilding, Samsung Heavy Industries, and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction are currently undergoing procedures to secure the right to strike.

Members of the Metal Workers' Union Hyundai Heavy Industries Corporation enter a partial strike on the 11th and hold a strike rally at the Ulsan Shipyard. /Courtesy of News1

The general strike by the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union comes approximately two months after the first meeting between labor and management in May. The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor and management have conducted 14 rounds of main negotiations and practical negotiations until the day before but have been unable to narrow their differences. In response, the union has been negotiating with management through the strike and rally of delegates from the dispute response committee that took place on the 9th and partial strikes involving all members on the 11th.

The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union demands an increase in the monthly basic salary by 141,300 won, an increase in seniority pay, an extension of the retirement age to a maximum of 65 years, and improvements in working conditions for subcontracted workers. Management has presented a monthly basic salary increase of 127,000 won, a bonus of 5 million won, and performance-based management bonuses.

The Hanwha Ocean union also began a general strike two months after their first meeting in May. The Hanwha Ocean union is demanding wage increases and retirement extensions. During the 14th negotiations held on the 15th, Hanwha Ocean proposed a fixed basic salary increase of 120,000 won, increased allowances for spouses and children, a one-time payment of 4.3 million won, and one special leave day.

The union maintains that since the shipbuilding industry is booming, they will achieve wage increases and improvements in working conditions. However, shipbuilders state that this year's order volume has decreased compared to last year and that there is a need to narrow the gap with China through the development of new technologies like eco-friendly engines, making it difficult to meet all the union's demands.

An official from the Shipbuilding Industry Union Federation said, "If management does not present a reasonable proposal, a general strike including the remaining three business sites will occur."

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