Strike hits two SKorean auto firms

FE Team | Published: July 17, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

SEOUL, July 16 (AFP): Workers at two South Korean auto companies staged labour stoppages today in support of a pay claim, company officials said.
GM Daewoo Auto and Technology's 9,915-member union launched a two-hour strike from mid-morning, spokesman Lee Jong-Yong said, adding night-shift workers would also down tools for two hours.
"The union plans to strike again Wednesday if it fails to reach agreement with management at negotiations tomorrow," he told AFP.
Workers want an increase of 128,805 won (140 dollars) in monthly basic salary and a special bonus equivalent to four months' salary.
GM Daewoo, South Korea's third-largest automaker, posted an operating profit of 335 billion won (364 million dollars) last year, its first profit since US auto giant General Motors took over in 2002.
Second largest carmaker Kia Motors was also hit by labour unrest. On Monday, some 28,000 workers staged a six-hour strike - - the latest of several stoppages since June 28.
The company has rejected the union's demand for an 8.9 per cent rise in basic salary and a special bonus equivalent to two months' salary.
Kia is an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest automaker. The Hyundai Automotive Group linking the two companies is the world's sixth largest.
Strikes have become almost an annual ritual at Hyundai and Kia, eroding their competitiveness. South Korean automakers are already battling the effect of a strong won on key export sales.