Hyundai Motor Union To Expand Partial Strikes Next Week Over Wages

According to Yonhap, Hyundai Motor's union said workers will extend partial strikes next week as talks over higher wages remain deadlocked, raising concerns about possible production disruptions at South Korea's largest automaker. The union said members will stage four-hour walkouts during their respective shifts from July 20 to 22, after day and night shift workers already struck for two hours each from Monday through Wednesday this week. The two sides have held 15 rounds of wage negotiations this year without narrowing their differences. The 39,668-member union is seeking a 149,600-won increase in monthly base pay and performance-based pay equal to 30% of last year's net profit. Hyundai Motor, which makes Sonata sedans and Palisade sport utility vehicles, posted net profit of 10.36 trillion won last year. The company has offered an 80,000-won monthly base pay increase, a performance bonus equal to 350% of monthly salary plus 10 million won, and 15 shares of company stock.